"I'm glad to see you back again, Mr. Gartney," said the Major, mendaciously, when they were established in a comfortable corner out of earshot. "It's very kind of you to say so," responded Gartney, who quite appreciated and understood the sincerity of the remark, "I thought you would have been glad to have heard of my death in Arabia." "And why?" demanded Griff, warmly--"why, Mr. Gartney?" "Oh, if you don't know I'm sure I can't tell you," retorted Eustace, maliciously; "but don't trouble yourself to pay fictitious compliments, Major. I think we understand one another." "Of course," assented the Major, with great dignity; "between gentlemen there is always a sympathetic feeling." Gartney would have liked to have argued this point, but having no time to do so, he merely shrugged his shoulders, and resumed the conversation. "I brought my cousin, Sir Guy Errington, here to-day." "The devil you did!" ejaculated Griff, considerably astonished. Struck by the Major's tone, Eustace fixed his eyes keenly on him. "If you doubt me," he said coolly, "you will be convinced by going to the refreshment room, where, at present, he is in conversation with Mrs. Veilsturm." "Egad! she's got him at last," muttered Griff, pulling his grey moustache with an air of vexation. "What do you say?" asked Gartney sharply. Major Griff did not answer, being apparently in deep thought, but when Gartney addressed him the second time he had evidently made up his mind what course to pursue, and spoke accordingly. "It doesn't suit me," said the Major deliberately, "and I'm sure it won't suit you, nor your cousin, nor your cousin's wife." "It is as I thought," observed Eustace coolly; "there is something at the bottom of all this, therefore, if you will be less enigmatic, Major, I shall understand your meaning all the sooner." "I don't like to show my hand," remarked Griff, taking an illustration from his favourite pursuit, "but in this case I'll treat you as a partner and do so. I know why you want to speak to me." "Do you?" said Eustace imperturbably. "Yes! She"--referring to Mrs. Veilsturm--"is no doubt making the running with Sir Guy Errington to an extent which surprises you, and you want to know the reason." "Seeing that my cousin is not rich enough to tempt either Mrs. V. or yourself, I do," returned Eustace with brutal candour. Whereupon, the Major, like the daring old campaigner he was, told Gartney the whole story of the card episode, to which he listened attentively, and saw clearly the pit into which he had innocently led his cousin. "Well, Mr. Gartney," said Griff, when the story was finished and Eustace made no remark, "what do you say?" Eustace took out his watch and glanced at the time before replying. Then he replaced it in his pocket and answered the Major. "At present, I say nothing; later on, I may." "Oh, ho!" quoth Griff sharply, "then you have some idea----"