"DEAR MISS MADELEY,--My friend Narramore is here, and has
persuaded me to go to Switzerland with him. I shall be away for a
week or two, and will let you hear from me in the meantime.
Narramore says I am looking vastly better, and it is you I have to
thank for this. Without you, my attempts at 'enjoying life' would
have been a poor business. We start in an hour or two,--Yours
ever,

"MAURICE HILLIARD."



CHAPTER XVI


He was absent for full three weeks, and arrived with his friends at
the Gare de Lyon early one morning of September. Narramore and the
architect delayed only for a meal, and pursued their journey
homeward; Hilliard returned to his old quarters despatched a
post-card asking Eve and Patty to dine with him that evening, and
thereupon went to bed, where for some eight hours he slept the sleep
of healthy fatigue.

The place he had appointed for meeting with the girls was at the
foot of the Boulevard St. Michel. Eve came alone.

"And where's Patty?" he asked, grasping her hand heartily in return
for the smile of unfeigned pleasure with which she welcomed him.

"Ah, where indeed? Getting near to Charing Cross by now, I think."