miscellaneous collection of victuals which appeared on Mr
Marchurst's table, he dined at Craig's Hotel, where he had a nice
little dinner, and drank a pint bottle of champagne in order to
thoroughly enjoy himself. Madame Midas also had a dislike to tea-
dinners, but, being a guest, of course had to take what was going;
and she, Kitty, and Mr Marchurst, were the only people present at
the festive board. At last Mr Marchurst finished and delivered a
long address of thanks to Heaven for the good food they had enjoyed,
which good food, being heavy and badly cooked, was warranted to give
them all indigestion and turn their praying to cursing. In fact,
what with strong tea, hurried meals, and no exercise, Mr Marchurst
used to pass an awful time with the nightmare, and although he was
accustomed to look upon nightmares as visions, they were due more to
dyspepsia than inspiration.

After dinner Madame sat and talked with Marchurst, but Kitty went
outside into the warm darkness of the summer night, and tried to
pierce the gloom to see if her lover was coming. She was rewarded,
for M. Vandeloup came up about half-past eight o'clock, having met
Pierre as arranged. Pierre had found out Villiers in his hiding-
place, and was watching him while Villiers watched the house. Being,
therefore, quite easy in his mind that things were going smoothly,
Vandeloup came up to the porch where Kitty was eagerly waiting for
him, and taking her in his arms kissed her tenderly. Then, after
assuring himself that Madame was safe with Marchurst, he put his arm
round Kitty's waist, and they walked up and down the path with the
warm wind blowing in their faces, and the perfume of the wattle
blossoms permeating the drowsy air. And yet while he was walking up
and down, talking lover-like nonsense to the pretty girl by his
side, Vandeloup knew that Villiers was watching the house far off,