"The roof's leakin'," observed O'Hara without particular interest. "Write to the landlord," said Lacy--"the stingy millionaire." "He won't fix it," returned the other. "Did you ever hear of Lester Caldera spendin' a cent?" "On himself, yes." "That's not spendin'; it all goes inside or outside of him somewhere." He stretched his legs, crossed them, sucked on his empty pipe, and looked around at Westguard, who was still fussing over the figures. "Are you goin' to the Wycherlys', Karl?" "I think so." "What costume?" "None of your business," retorted Westguard pleasantly. "I'm going as the family Banshee," observed Lacy. "Did you ever hear me screech, Karl?" And, pointing his nose skyward and ruffling up his auburn hair he emitted a yell so unendurable that it brought Westguard to his feet, protesting. "Shut up!" he said. "Do you want to have this house pinched, you crazy Milesian?" "Get out of my rooms if you don't like it," said Lacy. "If I'm going to a masked dance as a Banshee I've got to practice screaming, haven't I?" "I," said O'Hara, "am goin' as a bingle." "What's a bingle?" "Nobody knows. Neither do I; and it's killin' me to think up a costume.... Dick Quarren's goin', isn't he?" "Does he ever miss anything?" said Lacy. "He's missing most of his life," said Westguard so sharply that the others opened their eyes. A flush had settled under Westguard's cheek-bones; he was still jotting down figures with a flat silver pencil, but presently he looked up. "It's the cold and uncomplimentary truth about Ricky," he said. "That set he runs with is making an utter fool of him." "That set," repeated Lacy, grinning. "Why, we all have wealthy relatives in it--wealthy, charming, and respectable--h'm!" "Which is why we're at liberty to curse it out," observed O'Hara, complacently. "We all know what it is. Karl is right. If a man is goin' to make anythin' of himself he can't run with that expensive pack. One may venture to visit the kennels now and then, and look over the new litters--perhaps do a little huntin' once in a while--just enough--so that the M. F. H. recognises your coat tails when you come a cropper. But nix for wire or water! Me for the gate, please. Ah, do you think a _man_ can stand what the papers call 'the realm of society' very long?" "Rix is doing well."