"No, we haven't got a place to write to; hateful, isn't it? If there's a thing I loathe, it's having to look for rooms after we get in. We've --pass!--always stayed in the same house, and--everybody to put in the kitty again!--and now the woman's left, or something. My! isn't the kitty getting big--look at all those sixpences underneath. Somebody count it!" "Now then, Carew, don't go to sleep!" Carew, thus adjured, gathered up the cards. Fitfully he was almost himself again, and only Mary was really sure that anything was amiss. "There's a little hotel I've stopped at there," he said. "Not at all bad--they find you everything for twenty-five bob the week; for two people there'd be a reduction, too. Remind me, and I'll give you the name; I have it in my book. Bowman, you to call!" Bowman called nothing; everybody passed again, and the kitty was augmented once more. "What time do we travel Sunday--anybody know?" "You can be precious sure," said Bowman, "that it will be at some unearthly hour. I've had a good many years' experience in the profession, but I never in my life was in a company where they did so many night journeys as they do in this one. I believe that little outsider arranges it on purpose!" "A daisy of an acting-manager, isn't he? I once knew another fellow much the--two, I call two--and then, at the end of the tour, hanged if they didn't rush us for a presentation to him!" "So they will for this chap. Presentations in the profession, upon my soul, are the----" "Three," said the "Duchess." "And when the time comes, not a member of the crowd will have the pluck to refuse. You see!" "Did you ever know an actor who had, when he was asked?" Dolliver flushed excitedly. "Nap!" he exclaimed. "Oh, oh, oh! Dolliver goes nap!" "No; d'ye mean it? Very well, fire ahead, then; play up!" There was two minutes' silence, and the youngster smacked down his last card, preparing a smile for defeat. "He's made it! Mrs. Bowman, you threw it away; if you'd played hearts, instead----" "No, no, she couldn't help it. She had to follow suit." "Of course!"--the "Duchess" caught feebly at the explanation--"I had to follow suit. What a haul! good gracious!" "That puts you right again, eh, dear boy?" "'I am once more the great house of Lyons!'" remarked Dolliver, piling up the pennies. "Six, seven, eight! Look at the silver, great Scott! Mrs. Carew, there's the ninepence I owe you." "'I have paid this woman, and I owe her nothing,'" quoted Carew. "Dolliver, you've ruined me, you beggar! Where's the 'bacca?"