A low racing car had drawn to a stop and a familiar cheerful face protruded from the driver's seat.
"Come on down, goopher!" cried Alec.
Amory called a greeting and descending a flight of wooden steps approached the car.

He and Alec had been meeting intermittently, but the barrier of Rosalind lay always between them.

He was sorry for this; he hated to lose Alec.
"Mr.Blaine, this is Miss Waterson, Miss Wayne, and Mr.Tully." "How d'y do ?" "Amory," said Alec exuberantly, "if you'll jump in we'll take you to some secluded nook and give you a wee jolt of Bourbon." Amory considered.
"That's an idea." "Step in--move over, Jill, and Amory will smile very handsomely at you." Amory squeezed into the back seat beside a gaudy, vermilion-lipped blonde.
"Hello, Doug Fairbanks," she said flippantly.

"Walking for exercise or hunting for company ?" "I was counting the waves," replied Amory gravely.

"I'm going in for statistics." "Don't kid me, Doug." When they reached an unfrequented side street Alec stopped the car among deep shadows.
"What you doing down here these cold days, Amory ?" he demanded, as he produced a quart of Bourbon from under the fur rug.
Amory avoided the question.