"Three hundred a week she refused for a return engagement at the Empire--told me so herself to-night. That's Pauly! Got the hump. What's three hundred to Pauly? I told 'em how she'd catch on before she went over. Don't I know?" He winked profoundly. "Look here, you'll see an artist in October at the Syndicate halls, that's--wot _ho_! She's going to knock 'em. Between ourselves she's got some new 'business,' that--well, it's great! Never been tried. I saw her when she was doing the last turn at the South London. I said to George, 'Cocky, that's a winner!' Robey couldn't see it. _I_ saw it; I can put my finger on the talent every time. She's going to make Marie sit up, my boy--she's another Marie Lloyd. Don't I _know_? I've got the judgment. I can spot 'em with one peeper! ... Isn't there a waiter in this damned hotel? I could do with a tiddley. Where's a bell?" "It's no use ringing," said Conrad, "nobody ever comes. It wants someone to go in and stir them up." But now Mrs. Adaile reappeared. "Oh!" she murmured. And then, "I've dropped a bracelet somewhere; I came down to look for it. Good evening, Lord Armoury." "A bracelet?" echoed Conrad with concern. "Good evening, Mrs. Adaile--a bracelet? Crumbs!" said Armoury. "Yes, isn't it a nuisance! I don't know how I could have lost it--I suppose the clasp was loose. I had it on out here." "Let me help you," said Conrad. In an undertone he added, "Don't find it yet. Let's look further off. Oh my dearest, it was so sweet of you! I'm in such a rage, I'm so wretched." "Where were you sitting, Mrs. Adaile?" asked Armoury, peering about. "Over here, over there, I don't know," she said hurriedly.... "Is it still in the chair?" she whispered. "Yes," whispered Conrad. "Are you sorry you're going from me?" "A little." "To leave you like this," he sighed, "it's awful. Joan----" "Well?" "Let me come to your room to say 'good-bye.'" She started. "Hallo! Have you got it?" exclaimed Armoury. "No," she said, "I--I thought I had." "Joan?" "I daren't," she faltered. "My maid----" "Come and say 'good-bye' to _me_, then. Do!" "Find it!" she said agitatedly--"he'll guess." "What's that?" cried Conrad. "Here it is--why, in one of our chairs! May I--?" He fastened the bracelet on her wrist. "Make me happy. Come to me," he begged. "Will you? Number seventeen." Her fingers touched his hand. "I'm so immensely grateful to you both," she said serenely. "Lucky for her we were here!" the intruder remarked when she had gone. "One of the servants might have pinched it by the morning." "Yes, I suppose it was as well we were here," said Conrad amiably. "If it hadn't been for you, I should have turned in before this." He dropped back into his seat, resigning himself to tedium a little longer.