The flat, which had just been finished, took them by storm. It was ideal. Apart from its excellent style, every convenience that the wit of man can devise seemed to have been embodied in its construction. Its walls were sound-proof: so were its ceilings and floors. Its rooms were invisibly lit: it could be centrally heated at will: there were four bathrooms: the servants’ quarters were paved with rubber throughout: the telephone could be connected to a private exchange: there was even a chute to a private posting box in the common hall. Light, airy, perfectly arranged and admirably decorated, it had only come into the market the day before, and that by accident. The porter who showed them over was patently proud of his charge. “She’ll go on Monday,” he said. “If you don’t take ’er, madam, there’s plenty as will.” It was long after six when at last the two emerged, swearing to be at the agents’ on Monday at nine o’clock. As they slid back to St. James’s— “Aren’t you thankful I made you come?” piped Julia. “You darling,” said Hubert and put her hand to his lips. . . . An hour had gone by, and Challenger, refreshed and comforted, was on the point of taking his leave when Julia knitted her brows. “I suppose we’re wise,” she said. Her _fiancé_ stared. “What—what d’you mean—‘wise’?” he stammered. “To take this South Street flat.” Challenger recoiled. For a moment he appeared about to founder. Then he strove to speak—ineffectually. At length— “You’re tired,” he said hoarsely. “That’s all. Tired and overwrought.” “Rot,” said Julia. “It’s this flat or Hill Street, of course. The question is which. Hill Street is very——” “But it’s settled,” screamed Hubert. “It was settled two hours ago. The moment we saw——” “That,” said Julia, “is my trouble. Now that I’ve had time to think, I’m not at all sure that Hill Street wouldn’t be best. For one thing——” “Look here,” said Hubert uncertainly. “Yesterday we saw Hill Street. We both found it a most elegant, agreeable apartment, more than suitable to our requirements and cheap at the price. To-day we inspected ten of the most bestial lodgments that ever cumbered the earth. When I ventured to compare them with Hill Street I was reviled as a slow belly.” “How dare you?” said Julia. “I never——” “That,” said Hubert, “was what you inferred. To-night—thanks entirely to your tireless enterprise, which I readily confess I did my best to embarrass—we totter slap into H.M.’s Dolls’ House—life-size. . . . Well, we both go wild about Harry. We rise up and call one another blessed. For an hour we stagger deliriously about our future home, repeatedly disclosing to each other its perfectly manifest excellence and fatuously declaring our relish by word and deed. The idea of comparing it with its predecessors never occurred to me. It wouldn’t have occurred to anyone, because—it is incomparable.” “So you think,” said Julia.