incalculable and pyrotechnic way in which women will use it will make humanity blink. Let us therefore pardon Tommy for staring in amazement at Clementina. He sought refuge in Etta. From Scylla, perhaps, to Charybdis; but for the present, Charybdis sat smiling under her fig-tree, the most innocent and bewitching monster in the world. Leaving the three children in the compartment, Clementina and Quixtus walked, for the last few moments before the train started, up and down the platform. “I suppose you’ll soon be coming back to London?” said Clementina. “I think so,” said he. “Now that the Grand Prix is over Paris is emptying rapidly.” “Parrot!” thought Clementina, once more confounding the instructress; but she said blandly; “What difference in the world can it make to you whether Paris is empty or not?” He smiled good-naturedly. “To tell the honest truth, none. Yes. I must be getting home again.” “Of course there’ll be a certain amount of worry over Hammersley’s affairs,” she said; “but I hope you’ve got something else to do to occupy your mind.” “I want to settle down to systematic work,” replied Quixtus. “What kind of work?” “Well,” said he, with an apologetic air, “I mean to extend my little handbook on ‘The Household Arts of the Neolithic Age’ into an authoritative and comprehensive treatise. I’ve been gathering material for years. I’m anxious to begin.” “Begin to-morrow,” said Clementina. “And whenever you feel lonely come and read bits of it to Sheila and me.” And thus came about the surprising and monstrous alliance between Clementina and Prehistoric Man. Dead men’s jawbones had some use after all. “_En voiture!_” cried the guard. “Good-bye, my dear Clementina,” said Quixtus, “we have had a memorable meeting.” “We have, indeed. You are sending away three very happy people.” “Why not four?” But she only smiled wryly and said: “Good-bye, God bless you. And keep out of mischief,” and clambered into the train. The train began to move, to the faint strains of the “Jewel Song” in _Faust_, and Sheila blew him kisses from the carriage window. He responded until the little white face disappeared. Then he thought of Clementina. “The very best, but the most enigmatic woman in the world,” said he. Which was a very sweeping statement for a man of his scientific accuracy.