that he should have arranged to meet his protegee at the restaurant that
afternoon. She was come to keep an appointment to which (now that
Anisty came to remember) Maitland had alluded in the beginning of their
conversation.

Well and good: once before, within the past two hours, he had told himself
that he was Good-enough Maitland. He would be even better now....

"But you did surprise me!" he declared gallantly, before she could wonder
at his slowness to respond. "You see, I was dreaming...."

He permitted her to surmise the object round which his dreams had been
woven.

"And I had expected you to be eagerly watching for me!" she parried archly.

"I was ... mentally. But," he warned her seriously, "not that name.
Maitland is known here; they call me Maitland--the waiters. It seems I made
a bad choice. But with your assistance and discretion we can bluff it out,
all right."

"I forgot. Forgive me." By now she was in the chair opposite him, tucking
the lower ends of her gloves into their wrists.

"No matter--nobody heard."

"I very nearly called you Handsome Dan." She flashed a radiant smile at him
from beneath the rim of her picture hat.

A fire was kindled in Anisty's eyes; he was conscious of a quickened