handsome?' and I slid the piece of gold into his palm.

"`Well, yes, sir,' he said, `there is a young lady, and she is
all that you say, sir. Pardon me, Monsieur is English?'

"`Yes,' said I.

"`Ah,' said he, smiling mysteriously. `And it is Wednesday.'

"`It is certainly Wednesday,' I admitted, though I did not see
that the day of the week mattered much.

"He came close to me and whispered:

"`The lady thought you might come, sir. I think she expects you,
sir. Oh, you can rely on my discretion, sir.'

"I was rather surprised, but not very much, for I had hinted to
George Fitzmoine that I meant to try my luck, and I supposed that
he had passed my hint on to his sister. My predominant feeling
was one of gratification. Mary loved me! Mary expected me!
There was complete mental sympathy between Mary and myself!

"I went up to my room in a state of great contentment. I had
been there about half an hour when my friend the waiter came
in. Advancing toward me with a mysterious air, he took a blank
envelope out of his pocket and held it up before me with a
roguish smile.

"`Monsieur will know the handwriting inside,' he said cunningly.