Betty, Mr. Henderson." Miss Annesley looked mildly curious at Nan,
who suddenly flushed. "We are to be married in the spring," she
explained shyly; and I dare say that there was a diffident expression
on my own face.

Miss Annesley gave me her hand, smiling. "You are a very fortunate
man, Mr. Henderson."

"Not the shadow of a doubt!" Miss Annesley, I frankly admitted on the
spot, was, next to Nancy, the handsomest girl I ever saw; and as I
thought of Mr. Robert in his den at home, I sincerely pitied him. I
was willing to advance the statement that had he known, a pair of
crutches would not have kept him away from No. 1300 Connecticut
Avenue.

I found three chairs, and we sat down. There was, for me, very little
opportunity to talk. Women always have so much to say to each other,
even when they haven't seen each other within twenty-four hours. From
time to time Miss Annesley glanced at me, and I am positive that
Nancy was extolling my charms. It was rather embarrassing, and I was
balling my gloves up in a most dreadful fashion. As they seldom
addressed a word to me, I soon became absorbed in the passing scene.
I was presently aroused, however.

"Mr. Henderson, Count Karloff," Miss Annesley was saying. (Karloff is
a name of my own choosing. I haven't the remotest idea if it means
anything in the Russian language. I hope not.)

"Charmed!" The count's r's were very pleasantly rolled. I could see
by the way his gaze roved from Miss Annesley to Nancy that he was