He had had but two precious hours at his disposal, and thirty minutes were already gone.

He hurried on to Tavistock Square, and soon found that well-known door open before him.
"'The Lady Crinoline sits upstairs alone,' said the page, 'and is a-thinking of you.' Then he added in a whisper, 'Do you go at her straight, Mr.Macassar; slip-slap, and no mistake.' "All honour to the true and brave! "CHAPTER V "As Macassar walked across the drawing-room, Crinoline failed to perceive his presence, although his boots did creak rather loudly.

Such at least must be presumed to have been the case, for she made no immediate sign of having noticed him.

She was sitting at the open window, with her lute in hand, gazing into the vacancy of the square below; and as Macassar walked across the room, a deep sigh escaped from her bosom.

The page closed the door, and at the same moment Crinoline touched her lute, or rather pulled it at the top and bottom, and threw one wild witch note to the wind.