"But I don't consider that you've acted with your usual tact in this affair," I protested, heedless of his words. "You could, of course, have broken if off in a much more honourable way if you had chosen." "I've been quite honourable," he declared, in a tone of annoyance. "I told her plainly that my love had cooled. Hark!" The clock on the inn hall was striking midnight. "There's no suspension of the twelve o'clock rule. Shut up, Frank, and be damned to you." He crossed to the sideboard, mixed a couple of whisky-and-sodas, and handed me one, saying-- "Thirsty weather this. My mouth's as dry as a kipper." I willingly admitted that the summer dust of London was conducive to the wholesale consumption of liquid, but was nevertheless reflecting upon his remarkable change of manner towards Lily. Something, I believed, had occurred of which he had not told me. He stretched himself in the armchair, placed his glass at his elbow, and began to blow a suffocating cloud from his most cherished briar. "I wish you'd spend sixpence on a new pipe," I said, coughing. "This one cost fourpence halfpenny in Fleet Street nearly two years ago," he answered, without removing it from his lips. "Don't you like it?" "My dear fellow, it's awful." "Ah! So they said at the office the other day. Don't notice it myself." "But others do. I'll make you a present of a new one to-morrow." "Don't want it, old chap. Have a drink yourself with the money. This one's quite good enough for me. Besides, it'll keep the moths out of our drawing-room furniture," and he gazed around the shabby apartment, where, from the leather-covered chairs, the mysterious stuffing was in many places peeping forth upon the world. We smoked on. Although I had been considerably annoyed by what he had told me regarding Lily, his imperturbable good humour caused me to laugh outright, whereat he observed-- "You're really a very funny beggar, Frank. I like you exceedingly, except when you try and dwell upon themes you don't understand. Those who do that are apt to wallow out of their depth. You don't know my reasons for throwing Lil over; therefore it's impossible for you to regale me with any good advice. You understand?" "But what are your reasons?" I inquired. "You shall know them before long," he assured me. "At present I don't intend to say anything." "This is the first time, Dick, we've had secrets from each other," I observed gravely. "No," he answered. "You love the mysterious Eva, and have never told me so. That's a secret, isn't it?" I was surprised that he had detected my love for her, and rather alarmed, because if he had noticed it others had doubtless remarked it also. Therefore I questioned him, but he only laughed, saying-- "Why, anybody who saw you together down at Riverdene couldn't fail to guess the truth. People have sharp eyes, you know."