In a chair on the right side of the fireplace sat Sturtevant in his shirtsleeves, smoking a cigarette, while on the other side of the fire was a young lady dressed in the van of the fashion, also smoking. Her hat was off, and her hair was metallically golden. "Where--the--devil--did you spring from?" said Gobion. "My good friend--not before a lady, please," said Sturtevant with a grin. The lady waved her cigarette in the air. "Spit it out, old man; don't mind me!" she said. Gobion looked helplessly from the lady to Sturtevant and back again. These things were beyond him. "Allow me," said Sturtevant. "Mr. Yardly Gobion, Miss--er--I don't know your name, my dear." "Me?" said the young lady. "My name don't matter. I'm off; so long, boys." "Will you explain?" said Gobion. "I am rather bewildered." "Well, it's in this way. I got up to town about six this evening, and went to the Temple. I found my chambers in an excessively filthy state, with no fire, my laundress not expecting me till to-morrow. I dined at the 'Monico,' and met that damsel in Piccadilly; and, in short, we have been spending the evening under your hospitable roof, aided by a bottle of fizz from the 'Grecian.'" "I see. Well, if you don't mind, old man, don't bring that sort in. I like them anywhere but in my rooms. A _demoiselle de trottoir_ should stay----" "On the _trottoir_--quite so. I won't offend again; only I wanted someone to amuse me, and I expected you'd be late. Now look here; can you put me up for the night? my chambers are in a horrible mess." "Oh, I should think so; I'll ask the landlady." At half-past eleven the next morning Gobion got up, after some trouble getting Sturtevant out of bed; and they began a composite meal which the president called "brunch" soon after twelve. Some letters were waiting. One was a pathetic appeal from an Oxford tailor for "something on account." Gobion said "damn" (the Englishman's shortest prayer), and threw it into the fire. Another was a letter from Scott, strong, earnest, and loving. He passed it to Sturtevant, who read it and said, "Man seems to have kept it a little too long in a hot place. Trifle high, don't you think?" The third ran:-- "MY DEAR CARADOC, "Marjorie and I are coming up for a fortnight to stay with my mother in Kensington. We hope to see a good deal of you, as you say you have deserted Oxford for a time to take up some literary work in London. "Marjorie tells me to say that you must meet our train--the 4.30 at Victoria, but don't put yourself out. "Yours affectionately, "GERALD LOVERING." "Hallo," said Gobion, "my girl's coming up!" "Didn't know you had one; has she any money?" "A little, I think, and her father looks on me as an eligible; he doesn't know I've been sent down, and I don't intend he shall. I have to meet the 4.30 this afternoon." "Well, I wanted to talk over our plans some time to-day. When will you come to my chambers?"