"Oh, he's very well. Just as lazy as ever. He's away at present, down
at Brighton."

"He didn't strike me as lazy," said Wally thoughtfully. "Dynamic
would express it better. But perhaps I happened to encounter him in a
moment of energy."

"He doesn't look a day older than he did then."

"I'm afraid I don't recall his appearance very distinctly. On the
only occasion on which we ever really foregathered--hobnobbed, so to
speak--he was behind me most of the time. Ah!" The waiter had
returned with a loaded tray. "The food! Forgive me if I seem a little
distrait for a moment or two. There is man's work before me!"

"And later on, I suppose, you would like a chop or something to take
away in your pocket?"

"I will think it over. Possibly a little soup. My needs are very
simple these days."

Jill watched him with a growing sense of satisfaction. There was
something boyishly engaging about this man. She felt at home with
him. He affected her in much the same way as did Freddie Rooke. He
was a definite addition to the things that went to make her happy.

She liked him particularly for being such a good loser. She had
always been a good loser herself, and the quality was one which she
admired. It was nice of him to dismiss from his conversation--and
apparently from his thoughts--that night's fiasco and all that it