"He wasn't talking to you, or to me either, for that matter; but I
have ears that can hear an eye wink. He said: 'Thank God, this
night of horror is over!' Think of that! After such a dance and
such a spread, he calls the night horrible and thanks God that it
is over. I thought he was the very man to enjoy this kind of
thing."

"So did I."

"And so did I."

The five musicians exchanged looks, then huddled in a group at the
gate.

"He has quarrelled with his sweetheart," suggested one.

"I'm not surprised at that," declared another. "I never thought it
would be a match."

"Shame if it were!" muttered the ungainly youth who had spoken
first.

As the subject of this comment was the son of the gentleman whose
house they were just leaving, they necessarily spoke low; but
their tones were rife with curiosity, and it was evident that the
topic deeply interested them. One of the five who had not
previously spoken now put in a word:

"I saw him when he first led out Miss Page to dance, and I saw him
again when he stood up opposite her in the last quadrille, and I