“That I cannot say. If I were Mr. Danvers’ bosom friend it might be straightforward sailing. As it is, I am only a new acquaintance, although I have done my best to ingratiate myself with him. If I invite him over here it must be with some special excuse. A little supper party would do it. You could invite the gentleman who seemed so partial to you last night to make a fourth, and I’ll stand exes.” Mr. Staines seized this plan with avidity, and almost overwhelmed his informant with questions, all of which related in some way or other to the supposed habits and circumstances of the myth which had been invoked solely in Harley Riddell’s interests. Satisfied eventually that a very good haul was probably in store for him, he went on his way rejoicing. Mr. Bootle would not return with him to the hotel, but pleaded that his only sensible course was to return to Gibraltar, whence he professed to have come, in order to endeavour to make an appointment with Mr. Danvers. But the reader hardly needs to be told that Gibraltar saw nothing of Mr. Bootle that evening. On the contrary, he went straight to the lodgings that he found so comfortable and convenient. Briny was waiting for him with his usual watchfulness, and was very glad to find that he was not doomed to spend the whole evening alone. Instead of going to bed Mr. Bootle carefully changed his apparel, and emerged presently from the room attired as Miss Una Stratton. “You are in nice time for supper, Miss Stratton,” said Mrs. Dollman. “I hope your headache has left you.” “Thank you,” was the reply. “I feel much better now. Do you mind my bringing Briny into the room with me? He has had to be very quiet since tea-time.” “Certainly not. He’s a jolly dog, whom to know is to like. Eh, Briny? Miss Stratton, let me introduce my brother-in-law to you. This is Mr. Twiley.” “Yes, I have already heard of you, Mr. Twiley, and am pleased to make your acquaintance.” So said the young lady upon whom the sergeant-major’s eyes were fixed with unaffected admiration. And when she said she was pleased to see him she meant it, too. For she had already been revolving a plot in her mind in which the sergeant-major played a prominent part, and her first glance at him convinced her that he was a man whom she could trust. He was in the very position to afford her certain aid which she desired, and it was a great relief to her to find that he was just the sort of man she had imagined Mrs. Twiley’s husband to be. So she resolved to lose no time in taking him into her confidence, as she needed an able coadjutor at once. But even urgent confidences must be repressed until a seasonable opportunity for their disclosure occurs, and Miss Stratton began to fear that her designs were fated to be baulked for the time being.