minute, yes? and to stay there till closing time? Am I right?'

Soames nodded.

The Devil looked at his watch. `Ten past two,' he said.
`Closing time in summer same then as now: seven o'clock. That
will give you almost five hours. At seven o'clock--pouf!--you
find yourself again here, sitting at this table. I am dining to-
night dans le monde--dans le higlif. That concludes my present
visit to your great city. I come and fetch you here, Mr. Soames,
on my way home.'

`Home?' I echoed.

`Be it never so humble!' said the Devil lightly.

`All right,' said Soames.

`Soames!' I entreated. But my friend moved not a muscle.

The Devil had made as though to stretch forth his hand across
the table and touch Soames' forearm; but he paused in his
gesture.

`A hundred years hence, as now,' he smiled, `no smoking
allowed in the reading-room. You would better therefore----'

Soames removed the cigarette from his mouth and dropped it
into his glass of Sauterne.