His rooms were in readiness for him, and whilst the attendant prepared a light supper, he examined some letters which had arrived that evening.

Two of the envelopes contained pressing invitations--with reference to accounts rendered and re-rendered; he glanced over the writing and threw them into the fire.

The third missive was more interesting; it came from a lady of high social position at whose house he had formerly been a frequent guest.

"Why do we never see you ?" she wrote.

"They tell me you have passed the winter in England; why should you avoid your friends who have been condemned to the same endurance?
I am always at home on Thursday." He held the dainty little note, and mused over it.