"Mr. Pieper says, will you please walk in," said the clerk. The prominent lawyer, as on the previous occasion, was sitting behind his desk. When Lilly entered, he raised his head, and inspected her a few moments in silence. Then he smiled and rubbed his shining pate, and said in a long drawl: "U--m--m! So--o--o!" His eyes glided over her body as over a piece of goods for sale. Lilly, whose respect for the man rendered her breathless, made a gesture which was half bow, half courtesy, and pulled at the short sleeves of her overcoat. "Now I understand," continued Mr. Pieper. "You have developed in a way, my child, which in a measure excuses all sorts of masculine absurdities, even if it does not justify them--the masculine intellect is here to suppress all ebullitions. I forgot my manners--good morning, Miss Czepanek." He rose and held out his cold, spongy hand, which under pressure felt as limp as if it were boneless. "Oh, do please show me your gloves," he said. Lilly started like a guilty thing, drew her elbows back, blushed and stammered: "I was just going to buy a new pair." "Don't!" he rejoined, smacking his lips with gusto. "Grey rags like these arouse emotion. Your cloak arouses emotion, too. Your clothes make a piquant contrast to your general appearance. Lovers of such naïve, sentimental things are easily moved by them to lyric outbursts, even if lyricism is not their forte." He laid his arm in hers with a confidential manner, and led her to a heavily upholstered settee. "Be seated in this chair of torture," he said, "though to-day we're not going to extract even a tooth. Taking everything into consideration, you have done well for yourself. I am content with you, my child." He stroked his straw-coloured beard complacently, and grinned like a trickster after the performance of a particularly artful dodge. "When do you think the wedding will take place?" "Why, there has not been--an engagement--yet," stammered Lilly. "Well, there won't be what is called a real engagement--sending out notices and receiving visits, and so on. As little stir as possible, Miss Czepanek, as little stir as possible. That's my advice. In the delicate situation in which we find ourselves, contrary influences are always to be feared." "I haven't said 'yes' yet," Lilly ventured to interject. This amused him immensely. "Who'd have thought it! A mock refusal! Who'd have thought it! I didn't take you for so good a business woman, Miss Czepanek." "I am at a loss as to your meaning," said Lilly, who without fully realising why, was growing hot with indignation. He put one hand to his hip, and continued to be amused.