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whether you caught the tram; and what am I to say? Come along.”

“Please!”

His eyes had widened at the almost desperate appeal in the monosyllable. He had stared at her in astonishment, a wild hope surging within him. He had laughed rather uncertainly.

“I know my duty as an escort———”

She had turned and hurried away, and he had followed apologetically, almost running to overtake her. Just as he had been about to speak again she stopped and flared at him.

“Go away! Go home, you fool! Oh———!” She had beaten her clenched hands together in passionate anger. “For God’s sake, go home!”

Then the wild hope in him had become certainty, and the certainty had brought a sensation of largeness. He had felt himself dilate with a knowledge of his hitherto unsuspected power over this woman. He had realised for the first time that he had been on his knees to her and that she had spurned him for her own protection and not for his hurt.

He had taken her by the elbows then and had swung her round so that the light of the moon shone full upon her upturned face. She had struggled in vain to free herself, tearfully demanding that he let her go.

“So that’s how it is, eh?” he had breathed triumphantly.

“Let me go! Let me go, Jimmy! I was a fool ever to have come near you again. But this is the last time. This is good-bye. Let me go!”

“Good-bye, is it?”

“Yes!”

“Because Grace is an old friend, of course? Her husband shall be sacred. Why struggle, my dear? I could hold you like this for a week if necessary.”

“You beast—Jimmy!”

“I’ve heard many tales of your conquests, my dear, and I’ve never believed them until now. Now