``If it's I that set you going like that, old chap,
I'll come up and play ragtime every day!''

Cyril shrugged his shoulders and got to his
feet.

``If you've seen all you want of the rug we'll
go down-stairs,'' he said nonchalantly.

``But we haven't!'' chorussed several indignant
voices. And for the next few minutes not even
the owner of the beautiful Kirman could find
any fault with the quantity or the quality of the
attention bestowed on his new possession. But
Billy, under cover of the chatter, said reproachfully
in his ear:

``Oh, Cyril, to think you can play like that--
and won't--on demand!''

``I can't--on demand,'' shrugged Cyril again.

On the way down-stairs they stopped at
William's rooms.

``I want you to see a couple of Batterseas I
got last week,'' cried the collector eagerly, as he
led the way to the black velvet square. ``They're
fine--and I think she looks like you,'' he finished,
turning to Billy, and holding out one of the knobs,