Micky was frowning; it was odd that he felt more jealous of this man whom he had never seen than he had ever done of Ashton. He hated to feel that Esther had gone out with him wearing her new coat. He stood by silently while the two girls chattered together; he felt very much out of it and unwanted. "I'm glad everybody likes my coat," Esther said. She had taken it off and was holding it at arm's length, admiring its beauty. "It was a lovely present, wasn't it?" She appealed to Micky. "Yes," he said. She laid her cheek to the big, soft collar. "It's something I have wanted all my life," she told him. Micky put out his hand and took it from her. He hated to see her standing there looking so happy because she believed it had come from Ashton; he threw it down on the couch. "I shall have to be going," he said abruptly. He shook hands with June, but he walked out of the room without speaking to Esther. "I don't want any dinner," he told Driver when he got in. "I'm going to bed." Driver opened his mouth to say something and closed it again; he brought the evening papers and his master's slippers and turned to leave the room. At the door he stopped and looked back. "Have you seen the evening paper, sir?" he asked deprecatingly. "No," said Micky. Something in the man's voice arrested his attention; he turned in his chair. "Why?" he asked curtly. Driver came back a step. "There's a notice of Mr. Ashton's marriage in it, that's all, sir," he said woodenly. "I thought that you'd be interested." CHAPTER XXII So it had come at last. Micky sat staring down at the small paragraph which briefly announced the marriage of Tubby Clare's wealthy widow to Mr. Raymond Ashton. The ceremony, so the paper declared, which had taken place quietly in Paris would be a complete surprise to everybody. Mrs. Clare, as all the world knew, inherited something like £90,000 under the will of her late husband. Micky whistled softly. Raymond had done well for himself. He would be able to live in luxury for the rest of his life; to discharge all his debts, if his wife chose to allow him to do so; all but one debt--the greatest of them all, and one which he could never hope to liquidate--a woman's broken heart. Esther--what would she say if she knew? And supposing she knew now----! It was quite likely that a copy of this same paper had fallen into her hands. The thought turned Micky cold; he looked up hurriedly at the clock--not yet eight! On what pretext could he go back to Elphinstone Road? He threw the paper down and rose to his feet. His gloves! He would make them the excuse--he could go back for his gloves. He taxied down the whole way; he sent his name up to June and waited in the hall. After a moment she came flying down the stairs. "Micky! Is anything the matter? What in the world...." He explained in stammering haste.