"Oh!" returned Mr. Thambits, after a pause. "I thought he was married?" "Of course--married Miss Mostyn," murmured Jiddy, meekly. "Well, marriage isn't a crime," said Eustace, raising his eyebrows. "What is the meaning of the remark?" "Eh?" answered Dolly, vacantly, with another scowl at Cleopatra. "Oh, nothing only--oh, bother! they've gone into the next room. Come, Jiddy!" and the young man vanished into the crowd, accompanied by his umbra, leaving Eustace in a state of considerable bewilderment. "Is the boy mad," said that gentleman to himself, "or only jealous? The latter, I think. He sees it too. Confound it! What does it mean? She's surely not going to fight an enemy unworthy of her spear? Yet, I don't know. Women are strange creatures. She must have some reason. I'll go and see what Major Griff says about it." That redoubtable warrior, looking stiffer, airier, and more military than ever, was talking in his sharp voice to a ponderous gentleman somewhat after the Dr. Johnson type, who was listening attentively. "Yes, sir," the Major was saying, "I am growing tired of town. I think I'll take a run across to New York." "And Mrs. Veilsturm?" "I am not aware what Mrs. Veilsturm's plans may be," said Griff, in a frigid tone, "as she does not honour me with her confidence so far." The ponderous gentleman smiled meaningly, as he, in common with the rest of society, was beginning to doubt the platonic relationship said to exist between the Major and Cleopatra. Major Griff saw the smile, and, ever on the alert to defend Mrs. Veilsturm from the slightest breath of scandal, would have made some sharp remark, but at that moment Eustace touched him on the shoulder. "Excuse me, Major," he said courteously, "but could I speak to you for a few moments?" "Certainly, certainly," answered Griff, with great readiness. "Mr. Waldon, we will resume our conversation on some other occasion." He was always willing to oblige Eustace from motives of diplomacy, as he was well aware Mr. Gartney was to a certain extent behind the scenes, and judged himself and Cleopatra from a very different standpoint to that of the world. Eustace indeed knew that both Major Griff and his fair friend were neither more nor less than a couple of clever adventurers, but with indolent good nature he never imparted this opinion to any one, as he saw no reason to topple down the house of cards they had so laboriously built up. Besides, he hated the trouble which the exposing of the pair would entail, and, in his innermost heart deeming them not much worse than the rest of London society, he permitted them to continue their predatory career unchecked. The Major knew that Eustace would leave himself and partner alone, but was always scrupulously polite to him, so that nothing disagreeable should arise to mar the perfect understanding between them.