"It is all right," he answered. "It was about the charity tableaux. I did not want to go away without seeing you, so I sent Stubbs--" "You are not going this moment?" Marion looked at him in surprise. She was further than ever from understanding him. He seemed to act suddenly and irrationally. A quarter of an hour earlier he had been almost his old self, in spite of his strange references to a mystery which he could not communicate to her, and now he had changed again and resumed the incomprehensible manner he had affected of late. He seemed anxious to get away from her, even at the cost of seeming rude. Then, as he held out his hand to say good-bye, he surprised her more than ever. "If you will allow me," he said, "I will come back in the course of the afternoon." "Certainly," she answered, staring at him as she shook hands. A moment later he was gone, leaving Marion in considerable perplexity and some anxiety of mind. When Brett left the house he went in search of Vanbrugh, whom he ultimately found at a club. The conversation which had taken place between three men who were spending the long afternoon between letter-writing, the papers, and gossip, is worth recording. It was about five o'clock. The names of the men were Goss, Greene, and Bewlay, and they were rather insignificant persons, but gentlemen, and all acquainted with the actors of this story. Goss was seated in a deep leathern easy-chair with a paper. Greene was writing a letter, and Bewlay was exceedingly busy with a cigar while waiting for some one to say something. "Well!" exclaimed Goss. "That beats the record!" "I say," said Greene, looking up and speaking sharply, "I wish you would not startle a fellow in that way. My nerves are not of the best any way. What is the matter?" "Oh, nothing in particular," said the first speaker. "John Darche has come back to life again. I thought he was drowned last May." "Stuff!" ejaculated Greene, testily. "All right. I do not want to disturb your correspondence." "What is that about John Darche?" inquired Bewlay, delighted at hearing a voice. "Some rubbish or other," answered Goss. "It is the fashion to resurrect people nowadays--sort of way the newspapers have of getting ahead of the day of judgment. If this goes on, that entertainment will not draw." "What is it, any way?" "Headlines to begin with. 'The return of the prodigal--John W. Darche, alive and asking questions. Accident--not suicide--interview with Mr. Henry C. Brett.'" "What the dickens has Brett got to do with it?" asked Greene, looking up from his letter again. "They say he is engaged to marry Mrs. Darche," said Bewlay, in explanation. "That is another ridiculous story," answered Greene. "I happen to know he is as good as engaged to Miss Maylands." "Let me see the paper, please," said Bewlay.