^ There is no one of whom you need to ask permission."

•* Don't be silly," Marcia replied. " I asked permis-
sion, and without it I wouldn't have dined with you
alone to-night or lunched with Morris Hyde on Tues-
day."

**I trust that both entertainments," he ventured,
" have been a success."

Marcia shook her head.
"Morris Hyde was very disappointing," she con-
fessed. " I was looking forward to being tremendously
entertained, but instead of telling me all about these
unknown tribes in Central America, his only anxiety
seemed to be to know if I was going to let him kiss me in
the taxi afterwards. Explorers, I jBun afraid, are far
too promiscuous."

" Publishers," Borden said firmly, " are renowned
throughout the world for their fidelity."

" Fidelity to their cash boxes," Marcia scoffed.
Borden, who had lit his pipe, blinked at her through
a little cloud of smoke. They had come straight from
the theatre, and he was in the evening clothes of a man
who cares nothing about his appearance, — the black
waistcoat, the none-too-well fitting shirt, the plainest
of studs, and the indifferently arranged white tie.
Nevertheless, Marcia liked the look of him, seated at
ease in her low chair, and it was very obvious that he,
too, approved of his hostess. She was curled up now
at the end of the sofa, a cigarette in her mouth, an
expression of curious perplexity \ipoia. Wx l^^cfc, ^St!&.
