The evening thus unfortunately begun was not happily continued. There was a blight upon us all. I did my best, but I was in considerable pain and very tired. Moreover, I was not favourably impressed with my first sight of young Bohun. He seemed to me foolish and conceited. Uncle Ivan was afraid of him. He made only one attack. "It was a very fruitful journey that you had, sir, I hope?" "I beg your pardon," said Bohun. "A very fruitful journey--nothing burdensome nor extravagant?" "Oh, all right, thanks," Bohun answered, trying unsuccessfully to show that he was not surprised at my friend's choice of words. But Uncle Ivan saw that he had not been successful and his lip trembled. Markovitch was silent and Boris Nicolaievitch sulked. Only once towards the end of the meal Bohun interested me. "I wonder," he asked me, "whether you know a fellow called Lawrence? He travelled from England with me. A man who's played a lot of football." "Not Jerry Lawrence, the international!" I said. "Surely he can't have come out here?" Of course it was the same. I was interested and strangely pleased. The thought of Lawrence's square back and cheery smile was extremely agreeable just then. "Oh! I'm very glad," I answered. "I must get him to come and see me. I knew him pretty well at one time. Where's he to be found?" Bohun, with an air of rather gentle surprise, as though he could not help thinking it strange that any one should take an interest in Lawrence's movements, told me where he was lodging. "And I hope you also will find your way to me sometime," I added. "It's an out-of-place grimy spot, I'm afraid. You might bring Lawrence round one evening." Soon after that, feeling that I could do no more towards retrieving an evening definitely lost, I departed. At the last I caught Markovitch's eye. He seemed to be watching for something. A new invention perhaps. He was certainly an unhappy man. VIII I was to meet Jerry Lawrence sooner than I had expected. And it was in this way.