unhampered by Dumas, is impotence itself. Even at that early stage I had begun to be a captive to her. But I did not believe that her rule was malign.

“Mr. Foster,” she said, “I have asked you to see me to my carriage, but really I want you to do more than that. I want you to go with me to poor Alresca’s. He is progressing satisfactorily, so far as I can judge, but the dear fellow is thoroughly depressed. I saw him this afternoon, and he wished, if I met you here to-night, that I should bring you to him. He has a proposition to make to you, and I hope you will accept it.”

“I shall accept it, then,” I said.

She pulled out a tiny gold watch, glistening with diamonds.

“It is half-past one,”