"The worst of it is, you know, if she does like me I shall feel a brute, cutting in now. Old Stafford knew I was engaged too, you know." "It all serves you right," observed Ayre comfortingly. "If you must get engaged at all, why the deuce couldn't you pick the right girl?" "Fact is, I don't show up over well." "You don't; that is a fact." "Ayre, I think I ought to let him have his shot first." "Bosh! why, as like as not she'd take him! If it struck her that he was chucking away his immortal soul and all that for her sake, as like as not she'd take him. Depend upon it, Eugene, once she caught the idea of romantic sin, she'd be gone--no girl could stand up against it." "It is rather the sort of thing to catch Claudia's fancy." "You cut in, my boy," continued Ayre, "Frendship's all very well--" "Yes, 'save in the office and affairs of love!'" quoted Eugene, with a smile of scorn at himself. "Well, you'd better make up your mind, and don't mount stilts." "I'll go down and look round. But I can't ask her without telling her or letting him tell her." "Pooh! she knows." "She doesn't, I tell you." "Then she ought to. You're a nice fellow! I slave and eavesdrop for you, and now you won't do the rest yourself. What the deuce do you all see in that parson? If I were your age, and thought Claudia Territon would have me, it would take a lot of parsons to put me on one side." "Poor old Charley!" said Eugene again. "Ayre, he shall have his shot." "Meanwhile, the girl's wondering if you mean to throw her over. She's expected to hear from you this last month. I tell you what: I expect Rick'll kick you when you do turn up." "Well, I shall go down and try to see her: when I get there I must be guided by circumstances." "Very good. I expect the circumstances will turn out to be such that you'll make love to Claudia and forget all about Stafford. If you don't----" "What?" "You're an infernally cold-blooded conscientious young ruffian, and I never took you for that before!" And Ayre, more perturbed about other people's affairs than a man of his creed had any business to be, returned to the _Times_ as Eugene went to pursue his errand. CHAPTER XI. Waiting Lady Claudia's Pleasure