than as a flirtatious banter from a girl. He placed the flower in his
buttonhole without the faintest desire to respond with one of those
frivolous speeches he would have used under most similar
circumstances.

Before the meal was finished, Ah Ben entered the room and poured
himself a cup of coffee, which he drank without sitting down. It was
all that he took.




3


When Ah Ben had finished his coffee, the three retired to the great
entrance hall, where the fire was burning brightly, and the hanging
lamp lending its uncertain aid to the illumination of the curious old
apartment. Ah Ben produced a couple of long-stemmed pipes, one of
which he handed to Paul, with a great leather pouch of leaf tobacco
which he showed his guest how to prepare for smoking. They seated
themselves in the pew before the fire, Dorothy nearest the hearth,
while Paul placed himself upon the lounge opposite.

A great stillness pervaded the house, and Mr. Henley could not help
wondering again if there were not other members of the establishment.
Dorothy was staring into the fire, her thoughts far away, while Ah
Ben smoked his pipe in silence. "Perhaps they have theories about
digestion," Paul reflected, while he pulled at his long Ti-ti stem,
and watched the meditative couple before him. The firelight played