PAUSE It chanced that for three or four days after the night of the theatre expedition Valentine and Julian did not meet.

They were rarely apart for so long a period, and each was moved to wonder at this unwonted abstinence of their friendship.

What was the cause of it?
Each found it in a curious hesitation that enveloped him, and impelled him to avoidance of the other.

Valentine went about as usual.

He looked in at White's, dined out, rode in the park, visited two theatres, lived the habitual London life which contents so many and disgusts not a few.