"Have you heard the latest scandal?" it enquired. "No--what is it?" said another voice, which Pendleton recognized as Emerson's. There was a moving of chairs and the two men sat down. Pendleton took a long draw on his cigarette. He saw what was coming. Porshinger, however, did not see, and like the majority of his class, he craned his ears to overhear. "It's pretty hot stuff!" laughed Dolittle. "Were you at the Croydens' last night?" Pendleton glanced at Porshinger. The latter's face was suddenly creased by a frown. "No--but Marcia was," Emerson answered, with the parvenu parent's pride in the daughter who has been included. "She didn't tell you, I fancy?" "I've not seen her.--She takes her breakfast in bed, you know." "No--I didn't know," said Dolittle airily--then hastened to add:--"but most women do so, I understand." "I don't know about most women," Emerson returned bluntly. "Of course, you don't," Dolittle interjected pleasantly. "An old married man isn't supposed to know about such things. Hey!" and he laughed. "But to return--have you ever been in Croyden's country-house? It's down the valley." "Sure, I have," said Emerson. "Then you know how spacious it is, particularly the conservatory, and how the lights are arranged so that you seem to see all about you but you don't--the palms and the other big plants are concealers." Porshinger stirred uneasily and whipped a glance at Pendleton--who had gone back to surveying the clouds and pushing smoke rings toward them. "Yes," said Emerson; "I remember the conservatory perfectly. It's a beautiful room, a beautiful room!" "Well be that as it may," Dolittle went on: "it was just before the Cotillon, and I was in the conservatory with--never mind her name--when Stephanie Lorraine came in with the fellow Porshinger----" Porshinger half arose; then sank back and his eyes sought Pendleton--who was still occupied with the clouds and the smoke and his reverie. "It's amazing how such an infernal bounder can get intimate with a woman like Mrs. Lorraine, even if he has more money than brains--and even if she has a bit unsavory past," Dolittle continued. "There are plenty in her own circle who have sufficient money to occupy her attention. However, as I was saying, she and Porshinger entered and took a sheltered little nook, which apparently was concealed by the verdure----" "Where were you?" asked Emerson. "I was just a little way off, and could see through the leaves. Presently I happened to glance over and saw--what do you think I saw?" "Give it up," said matter-of-fact Emerson. "I saw--Mrs. Lorraine in Porshinger's arms!" "You don't say!" exclaimed Emerson. "Yes--and he was kissing her well, I can tell you." "Hum!" reflected Emerson. "Did your--companion see it, too?" "Sure, she did." And Pendleton knew from his tones that Dolittle lied. "Hum!" muttered Emerson again. "Is she discreet?"