"and I know you'll excuse me; I have to see Mrs. Chandler on the
mundane subject of laundry."

She favoured Kara with a little nod as she left the room and
touched John's shoulder lightly with her hand in passing.

Kara's eyes followed her graceful figure until she was out of
view, then

"I want to see you, Kara," said John Lexman, "if you will give me
five minutes."

"You can have five hours, if you like," said the other, easily.

They went into the study together; the maid brought the coffee and
liqueur, and placed them on a little table near the fire and
disappeared.

For a time the conversation was general. Kara, who was a frank
admirer of the comfort of the room and who lamented his own
inability to secure with money the cosiness which John had
obtained at little cost, went on a foraging expedition whilst his
host applied himself to a proof which needed correcting.

"I suppose it is impossible for you to have electric light here,"
Kara asked.

"Quite," replied the other.

"Why?"