I considered Mr. Penny's amiable, blonde countenance judicially. "It might," I agreed. "You see?" This from the Creature in a piercing stage whisper. "But it doesn't!" I finished, smiling brilliantly at Mr. Penny, who appeared slightly confused. Catching at a straw, which happened to be the beloved _Lyric Hour_, the Unknown--I simply can't call him Penny all the time--it's too ridiculous!--picked up the book, which was lying beside me, and immediately gave the most theatrical start I have ever seen. I've never seen plays, of course, but I have read them, and know stage directions when I see them in the flesh. This was a particularly good example of "confronted with the tell-tale revolver, Sebastian starts violently...." "Richard Warren," read the Stranger aloud, with a very poor affectation of indifference. "Yes," I said, "do you know him?" The Penny turned a beautiful crimson. "I've read the book," he faltered. My back may be weak, but my eyes are good. And the glance that passed between Dr. Denton and his friend did not escape me. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, old man," said the former soothingly, "particularly as it appears to be Miss Carroll's chief literary diet." "Is it?" asked my guest, rather excitedly, I thought. "I adore it!" I answered, with all the schoolgirl fervor I could muster. And it rang true, Diary, for it is! Dr. Denton looked at me keenly. "Lucky book!" he said lightly, while Mr. Penny added almost under his breath, "Lucky author!" He has nice, doggie, brown eyes, and very fair hair. I smiled into the former and longed to stroke the latter; it was so very smooth and shining. "Won't you tell me about your own work?" I asked, beguilingly. "Yes, do," urged Dr. Denton politely. The Unknown blushed some more. "I--I--" he began somewhat wildly, "please, let's not. I'm very new at the game, and...." His voice trailed off, and he sat hunched up in his chair, looking at me most pitifully. I was honestly sorry for him, although not a little intrigued; and most inexplicably suspicious. "Here's Wiggles," I said, "let's talk about him. Isn't he a duck?" Wiggles, very sleek and beautiful, jumped gaily into my visitor's lap and they became firm friends at once. "Why," I said, watching them, "he acts as if he knew you!" Mr. Penny looked up quickly. "I've one much like him, at home," he said. "Perhaps your puppy recognizes that. All my clothes are very doggy," he added, with a perfectly charming smile. "Wiggles," I said, "has excellent judgment--generally!" It was impossible not to cast the smallest, swiftest glance possible at my enemy, as I said it. I had the advantage; but Dr. Denton, from the ground, deliberately grinned at me. "She means," he explained carefully, "that Wiggles is quite partial to me. And, of course, she cannot understand it."