that I ordered asparagus to follow?" my new friend remarked, as he rose to
his feet. "Mr. Cullen wants a word or two with me in private, and Mr.
Cullen is a man who will have his own way."

I nodded as indifferently as possible and the two men walked off together
toward the entrance. Then I summoned my waiter.

"Bring me," I ordered, "a fresh portion of chicken and order some
asparagus to follow. Keep my friend's chicken warm and order him some
asparagus also."

Leaning back in my chair I tried to puzzle out the probable meaning of
this somewhat extraordinary happening. My acquiescence in the attitude
that had been so suddenly forced upon me was owing entirely to one
circumstance. Mr. Joseph H. Parker I had recognized at his first entrance
as a regular _habitue_ of the restaurant. He was usually accompanied by a
young lady who, from the first moment I had seen her, had produced an
effect upon my not too susceptible disposition for which I was wholly
unable to account, but which was the sole reason why I had given up my
club and all other restaurants and occupied that particular place for the
last fortnight.

I had put the two down as an American and his daughter traveling in
England for pleasure; and my continual presence at the restaurant was
wholly inspired by the hope that some opportunity might arise by means of
which I could make their acquaintance. Adventures, in the ordinary sense
of the word, had never appealed to me. I was privileged to possess many
charming acquaintances among the other sex, but not one of them had ever
inspired me with anything save the most ordinary feelings of friendship
and admiration.