violently interrupted by Triss. He rushed forth, and Frank was only in
time to prevent a pitched battle. He returned leading the dog by his
silk handkerchief, amid the murmur of nurse-maids and Jewesses.

"That's the worst of him; he never can see a big dog without wanting
to go for him. Down, sir, down--I won't have you growl at me."

"I can't see what pleasure you can find in a brute like that."

"I assure you he's very good-tempered; he has a habit of growling, but
he does not mean anything by it. What were we talking about?"

"I think we were talking about the ladies. Have you seen anything nice
lately? What's the present Mrs. Escott like, dark or fair?"

"There isn't one, I assure you. I met rather a nice woman at my
uncle's, about two months ago, a Lady Seely. I don't know that you
would call her a pretty woman; rather a turned-up nose, a pinched-in
waist, beautiful shoulders. Hair of a golden tinge, diamonds, and
dresses covered with beads. She flirted a great deal. We talked about
love, and we laughed at husbands, and she asked me to come and see her
in rather a pointed way. It is rather difficult to explain these
things, but I think that if I were to go in for her--"

"That you would pull it off?"

The young men laughed loudly, and then Frank said: "But somehow I
don't much care about her. I met such a pretty girl the other day at
the theatre. There were no stalls, and as I wanted to see the piece
very much, I went into the dress circle. There was only one seat in