started a fragrant cigarette.

"You see, Rainham," he continued, sending a blue ring sailing across
the room, "I am not so young as I was last year, and I have seen a
good deal more of the world."

"I see, Dick," said Rainham. "Well, go on!"

"I mean," he explained, "that those men who meet at Brodonowski's
are very good fellows, and deuced clever, and all that; but I doubt
if they are the sort of men it is well to get too much mixed up
with. They are rather _outré_, you know; though, of course, they are
awfully good fellows in their way."

"Precisely!" said Rainham, "you are becoming a very Solomon, Dick!"

He sat playing idly with the ring on his forefinger, watching the
artist's smoke with the same curiously obscure smile. It had the
effect on Lightmark now, as Rainham's smile did on many people,
however innocent it might be of satiric intention, of infusing his
next remarks with the accent of apology.

"You see, Rainham, one has to think of what will help one on, as
well as what one likes. There is a man I have come to know lately--a
very good man too, a barrister--who is always dinning that into me.
He has introduced me to some very useful people, and is always
urging me not to commit myself. And Brodonowski's is rather
committal, you know. However, we must dine there together again one
day, soon, and then you will understand it."