As Percy ran down the stairs to the street door one day, his mind was in a very contented state. This unfettered life with a thoroughly congenial companion, who lived wholly for him, and yet laid not one restriction upon his liberty--what could be more delightful? He had all the comforts and benefits of a home, with none of the care or monotony of domestic life. "I am the most fortunate of men," he mused, as he stopped on the lower landing to light his cigar. "Among the thousands in this city who have their agreeable companions hidden away like choice gems from the eyes of the world, I doubt if there is another Dolores. So beautiful, so true, so sensible, and so perfectly satisfied with her situation. Surely I am an ungrateful dog to ever feel discontented and restless, as I do so often." He opened the street door, and came face to face with Homer Orton. They greeted each other cordially, and passed down the street together. One of the first remarks the journalist made, put to flight all Percy's sense of happy security and seclusion, and rendered him miserable during the entire day. "By the way," Homer said, "do you know if Miss King, at whose rooms we met in Paris, is in New York? I was almost positive I saw her on Broadway, recently." Percy's heart fairly chilled with fear. Not for the world would he have Homer Orton know, that Dolores was living in the very block from which he had just emerged. For her sake, for both their sakes, this must not be. "It does not seem possible, that it could have been Miss King:" he answered, evasively. "I gave her my address in Europe, and she promised faithfully to inform me at once, if she returned to America at any time, even for a brief visit." "Well, I might have been mistaken," Homer continued, unsuspectingly. "But it certainly was a striking resemblance. What a beautiful creature she was! Too bad she was so carried away with her hobbies, though. I used to think you might be able to talk her out of them, if any one could, and overcome her objections to marriage." "I am not a marrying man," Percy answered, coldly, "and I respected the lady's views too much to wish her to change them. Good morning." He felt annoyed and irritated all day, at the recollection of his morning encounter with Homer Orton. But his annoyance settled into absolute alarm, when, two days later, he met the journalist again, precisely at the same place. "Are your rooms in this block?" asked Homer, in some surprise, as he greeted his friend. "If so, we are near neighbors. I am boarding in the block above." "No I have been calling on a friend," Percy answered, boldly. "He is ill, and I drop in often to see him." And then he hastened to change the conversation.