The porter staggered backwards. Then the porcelain rim caught him under the hocks, and it was all over. As he fell into the bath, George slid out of the room and, finding a key in the door, turned it gratefully. A moment later he was streaking up Sloane Street. . . . * * * * * It was, perhaps, ten minutes later that Julia, frantic, ran Hubert Challenger to earth. “Hubert, where have you been?” “Hurlingham,” said Hubert calmly. “How lovely you look.” “Not all day?” “Very nearly. I came up to town this morning, did one or two jobs of work and——” “At your rooms they said you were in Bucks: at Bucks they said you were in town: I wired to each of your clubs and half the restaurants in London: I——” “You also warned the barber,” said Hubert. “Only a genius would have thought of that. I’ve come straight along.” “Can you stop that notice going in?” “With the acme of ease,” said Hubert. “I haven’t posted the letter.” “But you said——” “I said I’d written, dear. I didn’t say I’d posted it.” Torn between relief and indignation, Julia felt rather faint. “Hubert,” she said weakly, sinking on to the arm of a chair, “I may tell you you’ve shortened my life. Last night I dined with George Fulke.” “Naturally,” said Hubert, sitting down. “They all do. As a second string, George’s position is unique. And I’m glad you did. I rather like George.” “Well, I don’t,” said Julia. “He’s—he’s utterly spoiled.” “In other words,” said Hubert, “he’s getting wise. Don’t say he’s done it on you.” “He behaved abominably. I told him to find the ring. D’you know he actually tried to bargain with me?” “Quite right too,” said Hubert. “Why shouldn’t he have a look in? What was his price?” “Only me,” said Julia. “If he found the ring I was to marry him.” Challenger nodded approval. “It is clear,” he said, “that George is finding himself. What did you say?” “I said that if he found the ring he could announce our engagement one month after yours and mine had been cancelled.” Challenger opened his eyes. “You must like George very much.” “I wouldn’t be seen dead with him.” “Then where,” said Hubert, “is the snag?” Julia hesitated. “I—I said ‘officially cancelled.’ You know. Put in _The Times_. But I never meant it to be done. I—I thought we could just tell people.” “Oh, what a dirty one,” said Hubert. “It wasn’t at all,” said Julia indignantly. “Besides, he asked for it. He tried to do me down. . . . And then—then I got your letter.” “Ah,” said Hubert. “That shortened George’s price.” “It was two to one on him,” cried Julia. “You’d disappeared: he’d only to find the ring—and that he did, my dear, quite early this morning.” She held up a delicate finger, at once adorning and adorned by a magnificent gem. “A messenger-boy——” Challenger looked down his nose. “As a matter of fact, he was scratched at half-past nine. I found the symbol, my lady, and sent it along.” Julia started to her feet. “_You_—found—it?”