"Very likely," assented Falconer. "It was so dark----Yes, I was wrong,

for there he stands by the door," he broke off, as, coming round the

corner, they saw Dick, who was engaged in lighting his pipe.

"Hallo! here you are, at last," he said, cheerfully. "Couldn't tear

yourselves away from the festive scene? By George! if you'd spent the

night in an engine room, you'd be glad enough to cut it."

"Poor Dick!" said Nell.

"Oh, I haven't had such a bad time," he said. "They brought me a ripping

supper, and a special dish with the chef's compliments. I don't know

where the chef's going when he leaves this terrestrial sphere; but,

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wherever it is, it's good enough for me. Well, Nellikins, enjoyed

yourself?"

Nell forced a smile.

"Very much," she replied. "It--it was a great success."

"So I hear," said Dick. "But you seem to have taken the cake to-night,

old man. They told me that you created a perfect furore, whatever that

is. Anyway, Mrs. Hawksley and the rest came down with the most exciting

account of your triumph. Seriously, Falconer, I congratulate you. I

won't say that I prophesied your success long ago, because that's a

cheap kind of thing to say; but I always did believe you'd hit the

bull's-eye the first time you got a chance; and you've done it."

"I think they were pleased," said Falconer.

"His lordship and the rest of the swells ought to be very much obliged,"

remarked Dick. "You've given éclat to his dance. Observe the French

again? There is no extra charge."

"His lordship was extremely kind," said Falconer, "and his thanks more

than repaid me for my poor efforts. I don't wonder at his popularity.

I've always heard that the higher the rank the simpler the manners; and

Lord Angleford is an instance of it. My acquaintance with the nobility

is extremely limited----"

"Ditto here," said Dick. "Though the young lady on your arm has lived in

marble halls, and hobnobbed with belted earls and lords of high degree.

But I'm glad to hear that this one is affable."

Falconer laughed.

"Affable is the wrong word; it means condescension, doesn't it? And Lord

Angleford was anything but condescending. He might have known me for

years, if one judged by the tone of his voice and manner; and, as I

said, I'm more than repaid."

"Well, I'm glad to hear he made a favorable impression on you," Dick

said. "I haven't had the pleasure of making his acquaintance yet; but I

shall probably see him before I go. But your success doesn't end here,

Falconer. I'm told that you are going to play at Cleavemere Court. By

George! if you knock them there as you did here--which, of course, you

will do--your fortune's made. The duchess has no end of influence, and

you'll be paragraphed in the papers, and get engagements at the houses

of other swells, and before we know where we are, we shall see 'Señor

Falconer's Recitals at St. James' Hall,' advertised on the front page of

the _Times_. And serve you right, old man, for if ever a man deserved

good luck, it is you. Eh, Nell?"




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