"Mixed lot, ain't they?--yes!" said Mr. Dolser superciliously, when he had got the unhappy Eustace pinned up in a corner; "don't they cackle about themselves too--rather See that stout old party in the corner, in the damaged millinery--new novelist, you know--disease school--Baudelaire without his genius--wrote 'The Body Snatcher' --yes!--read it?" "No," responded Eustace, shortly, "and I don't intend to." "It is rather a corker for weak nerves," said "The Pepper Box" proprietor, affably; "there's Gibbles--perfect genius as critic; always slashes a book without reading it. He's destroyed more reputations than any one I know. Yes! Ah! fancy Maniswarkoffi being here--pianist, you know. English, only they wouldn't have him under his real name of Grubs, so he went abroad and dug up his present jawbreaker. Draws money now, and smashes two pianos a week--beautiful!" In this way Mr. Dolser artlessly prattled along, destroying a reputation every time he opened his mouth, much to the disgust of Gartney, who wanted to get away. "Excuse me," he said, in despair, "but I see a friend over there." "Ah! do you really?" replied Dolser, putting up his eyeglass. "Oh, Macjean, isn't it? Yes. Just come back from America. Had a row with pa because he wanted him to marry some Scotch lassie. Yes." "You seem to know all about it?" "Yes, yes; oh, yes. Business, you know--and by Jove! talking about that, I want an interview with you about your book." "Then you won't get one." "That's all you know," retorted Mr. Dolser. "What? You won't tell me anything? Never mind, I'll make up a few fairy tales. If they ain't true that's your look-out. Ta, ta! Look in 'The Pepper Box' next week. Jove! there's Quibbles. 'Cuse me, I want to ask about Bundy's divorce," and he disappeared into the crowd. It was no use being angry with the little man, as he was so very good-natured with all his impudence, so Eustace merely smiled, and moving across the room to Otterburn, touched him on the shoulder. "You here?" he said, in a tone of glad surprise. "I _am_ glad! I was just going away." "Not enjoying yourself?" observed Eustace, leaning against the wall. "Can any one enjoy himself here?" retorted Otterburn in disgust. "I'm tired of hearing people talk about themselves; and if they talk about anyone else----" "They abuse them thoroughly. My dear boy, it's the way of the world. By the way, you got my note about Victoria?" Otterburn coloured. "Yes; I'm very much obliged to you," he replied, in his boyish fashion. "If it is only true what you think, that she does care for me----" "Of course she cares for you." "It seems too good to be true." "Do you think so?" said Gartney, drily. "Oh, I beg your pardon. I forgot you are in love!" "Cold-blooded cynic," laughed Otterburn, "go thou and do likewise." "With your awful example before me--hardly," replied Mr. Gartney, with a kindly look in his eyes. "Did I tell you Errington is here to-day?"