"No, thanks," Henry replied. "I'd rather walk home. It's such a beautiful night!" Lord Jasper followed Lady Cecily into the car. "You're a romantic chap, Quinn!" he said, and then, as an afterthought, he added quickly, "I say, we must arrange to go to the Empire together some evening. You're the sort of chap I like...." Lady Cecily waved her hand to him. As the car moved off he saw her beautiful face leaning against the side of the car, and he longed to take her in his arms and kiss her. Then the car turned, and drove quickly off. He stood for a moment or two looking after it, and continued to stand still even when it had swung out of the courtyard into the Strand. Then he walked slowly away from the restaurant. He had not gone very far when his arm was touched, and, turning round, he saw Gilbert. 6 "Hilloa," he said, "you're late!" "No, I'm not," Gilbert replied. "Yes, you are. The Jaynes have gone!" "I saw them going. I've been here for over half-an-hour, waiting for you!" "Over half-an-hour! What's up, Gilbert?" Gilbert put his arm in Henry's and made him move out of the Savoy courtyard. "Come down to the Embankment," he said. "It's quieter there. I want to talk to you!" "But hadn't we better go home? We can talk on the way. It's late...." "No. I want to go to the Embankment. Damn it all, Quinny, it's a sentimental place for a heart-to-heart talk, isn't it?" "You aren't drunk, Gilbert, I suppose?" "Never so sober in my life, Quinny. Besides, I don't get drunk. People who talk about beer and whisky as much as I do, never get drunk. Come along, there's a good chap!" "Very well ... only I'm not going to stay long. I'm no good for work the day after I've had a long night...." "I won't keep you long. How did the supper-party go off?" "Damnably. Two tame novelists turned up ... Boltt and Lensley!" "Those asses!" "Yes. Lensley 'chattered' to Lady Cecily, and Boltt bored and bored and bored.... I took him down a bit. I rubbed in the _Morning Report_ review. The little toad could hardly sit still! Of course, he affected the superior person attitude!" "God be merciful to him, poor little rat! He wants to be a wicked, hell-for-leather fellow, but he hasn't got the stomach for it! What did Cecily say when I didn't turn up?" "She looked rather cross. She told me as we came away to tell you she was angry with you. You're to go and apologise to her as soon as possible!" "Did she?" "Yes. I say, Gilbert, why didn't you turn up?" They had reached the Embankment, and they crossed to the riverside and leant against the parapet. "Because I was afraid to," said Gilbert. "Afraid to!" "Yes. Can't you see I'm in love with her?" "Well, I guessed as much...." "I love her so much that she can do what she likes with me, and all she likes to do is to destroy me!" "Destroy you!"