hands with her. As she went into the house, she asked Bashville
whether Miss Goff was within. To her surprise, he paid no attention
to her, but stared after the retreating cab. She repeated the
question.

"Madam," he said, recovering himself with a start, "she has asked
for you four times."

Lydia, relieved of a disagreeable suspicion that her usually
faultless footman must be drunk, thanked him and went up-stairs.






CHAPTER VIII





One morning a handsome young man, elegantly dressed, presented
himself at Downing Street, and asked to see Mr. Lucian Webber. He
declined to send in a card, and desired to be announced simply as
"Bashville." Lucian ordered him to be admitted at once, and, when he
entered, nodded amiably to him and invited him to sit down.

"I thank you, sir," said Bashville, seating himself. It struck
Lucian then, from a certain strung-up resolution in his visitor's