"I did not bring you here in a social capacity to discuss personal matters," said Eveley coldly. "I told you yesterday that my home is saddened by the grotesque figure of maladjustment stalking in our midst under his usual guise of Duty. As I have explained so many times, there is bound to be a happy adjustment. But this time I can not figure it out. Now I call on you." "Retainer's fee, one hundreds dollars. Payable, of course, in advance." "Oh, well, it is not strictly legal. Let's just talk it over nicely as dear good friends, and if you have an idea I can absorb it. Nolan, Eileen said she saw you at lunch to-day with a woman." "Eileen? How is Eileen? I haven't seen her for days. Let's have a party soon, and invite Kitty and Eileen and Miriam and me, and you give us a midnight supper here in the Cote, will you?" "It was at the Grant." "I did not see Eileen, but of course I was busy. Was she alone? We had a nice luncheon--grilled pork chops and country gravy. The gravy was good--no lumps. It made me think of yours." "My gravy is not always lumpy," she said with a frown. "It just happened that way the last two times because I was called to the telephone while I was making it." "Oh, sure, that's all right." He carefully adjusted her chair at the table, and drew his own close beside it, pulling his plate and silverware half-way around the table from where Eveley had placed them. "You look sweeter than ever, to-night, Eve. But I hope the gravy is not lumpy." "She wore a black dress and white gloves, and a black hat." "Eileen did? Was it a new dress?" "No, the one with you." "Sure enough, I believe she did. A georgette dress, beaded in front. Quite pretty. But there was a rip in her glove. She showed it to me herself. She said she did it on the car, but it looked like an old rip to me." "And after luncheon you went away in her car, didn't you?" "Her uncle's car. Just for a short run through the park, and then she dropped me at the office. Quite a pleasant woman. She was so polite to me, and treated me with such gentle deference. It was quite a change. It made me think of you." Eveley put down her fork. "Who was it?" "Bartlett's niece from San Francisco. Visiting here. He had promised to take her for luncheon, but at the last minute Graves came in and they were busy, so he turned her over to me." "I do not see why you are always the one to take their nieces and daughters out for luncheon. This is the fourth time in two months. I believe you do it on purpose. Why should they always pick on you?" "Partly because of my beauty, perhaps, and my charming manners as well as my generally winsome demeanor in the presence of ladies. I suppose Eileen also informed you that this niece is Mrs. Harmon Delavan, and has three children in addition to a husband."