Stanley was one of these favoured few. They had met soon after he came to England, and the younger man had conceived a genuine admiration for the older. It seems hardly necessary to say, that Kent-Lauriston, though (or because) a bachelor, was an authority on matchmaking. He had reduced it to a fine art. His keen eye saw the subtle distinction between the vulgar buying and selling of a woman, with the consequent desecration of the marriage service, and the blind love, which, hot-headed, sacrifices all the considerations of wisdom to the passion of the hour. "Never marry without love," he would say, "but learn to love wisely." It was to this man that the Secretary determined to make confession. Kent-Lauriston, he was sure, did not approve of the match and would use his strongest arguments to dissuade him from it. Stanley knew this was the moral tonic he needed. He did not believe it would be successful, but he determined to give it a fair trial. The Secretary reached his decision and his destination at one and the same moment, and feeling that his good resolutions would be the better sustained by a little nutriment, made his way to the luncheon table for which this particular club was justly famous; indeed, few people patronised it for anything else, situated as it was, almost within city limits, and boasting, as its main attraction, an excellent view of the most uninteresting portion of the Thames. Happening to look in the smoking-room, on his way upstairs, Stanley caught sight of Lieutenant Kingsland. "Hello!" he said. "You lunching here?" "I don't know," returned the other, laughing uneasily. "I'm inclined to think not. Viscount Chilsworth asked me to meet him here to-day; but, as he's half an hour late already----" "You think your luncheon is rather problematical?" "I was just coming to that conclusion." "Make it a certainty, then, and lunch with me." "My dear fellow, you forget that I dined with you last night." "What of that? When I first came to London, I was told that an English club was a place where one went to be alone--but I prefer company to custom." "Yes--but there are limits to imposing on a friend's hospitality. While I'm about it, I might as well share your breakfast and bed." "Not the latter, in any event, as long as I'm in small bachelor quarters." The Lieutenant laughed. "Well, then," he began, "if you'll forgive me----" "There's one thing I won't forgive you," interrupted the Secretary, "and that is keeping me a moment longer from my lunch, for I'm ravenously hungry. I just want to send a telegram to Kent-Lauriston, asking him to meet me at the club this afternoon, and then I'll be with you." Once they were settled at the table and the orders given, their conversation turned to general subjects. "I suppose we'll all meet at the end of the week in Sussex," said the Lieutenant. "Yes," replied Stanley, "at Mrs. Roberts'." "Is it to be a large party?"