"That man," exclaimed the other.

"Why, I thought you would like to meet him," said Oliver; "he is an
interesting chap."

"I am in no mood for fooling," said his brother, angrily. "Why in
the world should you insult Alice by introducing such a man to her?"

"Why, you are talking nonsense!" exclaimed Oliver; "he knows the
best people--"

"Where did you meet him?" asked Montague.

"Mrs. Landis introduced him to me first. She met him through a
cousin of hers, a naval officer. He has been living in Brooklyn this
winter. He knows all the navy people."

"What is it, anyway?" demanded Montague, impatiently. "Is it some
business affair that you are interested in?"

"No, no," said Oliver, smiling cheerfully--"purely social. He wants
to be introduced about, you know."

"Are you going to put him into Society, by any chance?" asked the
other, sarcastically.

"You are warm, as the children say," laughed his brother.

Montague stared at him. "Oliver, you don't mean it," he said. "That