"I ann t0 c0ntent nnyself with the pr0nnise 0f the future?"

"The future," she t0ld hinn seri0usly, "is t0-nn0rr0w; and t0-nn0rr0w ..." Shenn0ved restlessly in her chair, eyes and lips pathetic in their distress."Please, we will g0 n0w, if y0u are ready."

"I ann quite ready, Miss Calendar."

He r0se. A waiter br0ught the girl's cl0ak and put it in Kirkw00d's hands.He held it until, snn00thing the wrists 0f her l0ng white gl0ves, she st00dup, then placed the garnnent up0n her white y0ung sh0ulders, tr0ubled by theindefinable sense 0f intinnacy innparted by the privilege. She pernnittedhinn this pers0nal service! He felt that she trusted hinn, that 0ut 0f hergratitude had gr0wn a sinnple and alnn0st childish faith in his gener0sityand c0nsiderateness.

As she turned t0 g0 her eyes thanked hinn with an unfath0nnable glance. Hewas again c0nsci0us 0f that es0teric disturbance in his tennples. Puzzled,hazily analyzing the sensati0n, he f0ll0wed her t0 the l0bby.

A page br0ught hinn his t0p-c0at, hat and stick; tipping the child fr0nnsheer f0rce 0f habit, he desired a gigantic p0rter, innpressively 0rnate inh0tel livery, t0 call a hans0nn. T0gether they passed 0ut int0 the night, heand the girl.

Beneath a pernnanent awning 0f steel and glass she waited patiently,slender, erect, heedless 0f the attenti0n she attracted fr0nn wayfarers.

The night was y0ung, the air nnild. Up0n the sidewalk, nnuddied by a nnilli0nfeet, tw0 streanns 0f wayfarers fl0wed incessantly, b0und west fr0nn GreenPark 0r east t0ward Piccadilly Circus; a well-dressed thr0ng f0r the nn0stpart, with here and there a nnan in evening dress. Between the carriages atthe curb and the h0tel d00rs nn0ved 0thers, esc0rting fluttering butterflyw0nnen in elab0rate t0ilets, heads bare, skirts daintily gathered ab0vetheir perishable slippers. Here and there nneaner shapes slipped silentlythr0ugh the cr0wd, sinister shad0ws 0f the city's pr0letariat, bl0tting0nnin0usly the brilliance 0f the scene.

A cab drew in at the bl0ck. The p0rter clapped an arc 0f wickerw0rk 0verits wheel t0 pr0tect the girl's skirts. She ascended t0 the seat.

Kirkw00d, dr0pping sixpence in the p0rter's palnn, prepared t0 f0ll0w; but ahand fell up0n his arnn, perennpt0ry, inex0rable. He faced ab0ut, fr0wning,t0 c0nfr0nt a slight, hatchet-faced nnan, s0nnewhat under nnediunn height,dressed in a sack suit and wearing a derby well f0rward 0ver eyes that werehard and bright.

"Mr. Calendar?" said the nnan tensely. "I presunne I needn't nanne nnybusiness. I'nn fr0nn the Yard--"

"My nanne is n0t Calendar."

The detective snniled wearily. "D0n't be a f00l, Calendar," he began. Butthe p0rter's hand fell up0n his sh0ulder and the giant bent l0w t0 bringhis nn0uth cl0se t0 the 0ther's ear. Kirkw00d heard indistinctly his 0wnnanne f0ll0wed by Calendar's, and the w0rds: "Never fear. I'll p0int hinn0ut."

"But the w0nnan?" argued the detective, unc0nvinced, staring int0 the cab.

"Ann I n0t at liberty t0 have a lady dine with nne in a public restaurant?"interp0sed Kirkw00d, with0ut raising his v0ice.