Tombstone epitaph., 1918-03-10
CHAPTER xxl-continued.

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 "My own reputation" she mur- mured. ''is absolutely of no conse- Quence, but remember that you live here. and"
 Don't be sillyi" he interrupted. "What does that matter? And besides, according to you and all the rest of you here. these things don't affect a mans reputation-they are expected of him. See, I have rung the bell for breakfast. Now I am going to tele- phone down for . messenger boy to 90 for your clothes"
 They breakfasted together. a little later. and she made him smoke. He stood before the window. looking down upon the river. witA his pipe in his mouth and an unfamiliar look upon his face.
 Do you suppose that Louise knows anythingr' he asked at length.
 T should think not" she replied. 'It is for you to. tell her. rang up the princes house while you were in the bathroom. They say that he has . broken rib and some bad cuts, sus- tained in a motor accident last night, but that he ' in no danger. There vas nothing about the affair in the, newspapers. and the princes servants have evidently been instructed to give this account to inquirers."
 A gleam Of interest shone ia Johns face.
 By the bye" he remarked. "the prince Is a Frenchman. He will very likely expect me to fight with him."
 "No hope of that, my belligerent friend" Sophy declared. with an at- tempt at a smile. The prince knows that he is in England. He would not be guilty of such an anachronism. Be ddes. he Is a person of wonderfully weil-balanced mind. When he is him. self again. he will realize that what happened to him is exactly what he lsked for"
 John took up his hat and gloves. He glanced at the clock-it was a lit- tie past eleven
 'I am ready" he announced. "Let ne drive you home first"
 His motor was waiting at the door. and he left Sophy at her rooms. Be fore she got out, she held his arm for . moment.
 ~John." she said. remember that Louise Is very high-strung and very sensitive. Be careful!"
 There Is only one thing to do ol b say" he answered. There is only one way in which I can do It."
 He drove the car down Piccadilly like a man in a dream, steering as carefully as usual through the traffic. and glancing every now and then with nnseeing eyes at the streams of peo- pie upon the pavements. Finally he came to a standstill before Louise's house and stopped the engine with de liberate care. Then he rang the bell. and was shown into her little draw ing-room. which seemed to have become . perfect bower of pink and white lilac.
 He sat waiting as if in e dream, unable to decide upon his words, un- able even to sift his thoughts. The one purpose with which he had come. the one question he designed to ask, was burning In his brain. The min utes of her absence seemed tragically long.
 Then at last the door opened and Louise entered. She came toward him with . little welcoming smile upon her lips. Her manner was gay. al- most aHectionate.
 Have you come to take me for a yide before lunchr she asked. Do you know, think that should really Ike 1t! We might lunch at Ranelagh on our way home"
 The words stuck in his throat. From ing on his face. She stopped short.
 "What Is itf' she exclaimed.
 Ever since knew you" he said slowiy, "there have been odd moments when I have lived in torture. During the last fortnight, those moments have ,ecome hours. Last night the end came"
 ~Are you mad. John7" she demand ed.
 Perhaps" he replied. "Listen. When 1 left you last night, I went to the club in Adelphi Terrace. There was . Tell-known critic there. comparing you and Latrobe. On the whole he fa- vored you. but he gave Latrobe the first place in certain partA Latrobe. he said. had had moro experience In life. She had had . dozen lovers- you. only onew
 She winced. The glad freshness seemed suddenly to fade from her face. Her eyes became strained.
 "WenT
 T found Grafllot. coFnered him. [ asked him for the truth about you. He put me o6 with an evasion. came down here and looked at your window. It was three o'clock h the morning. dared not come h. A vesy demon of unrest was In my blood. stopped at the night club oo my way hoek. Scphy was there. I asked her plainly to put me out of my aeoay. no was llks 0guiIlot. She fenced witA De. And theo-the princs eaDer
 m pgines was thersr. shs fn1- SsFed-
 ~Hs eams - to the table wAsrs 0ophy and ! wsro atf1nG. I think ! 0as hs'f mad. poursd him g1aO c vans told hiD that - Ao1 -