Hewasstayingatalargecountry-housemanymilesdistantfromthesceneofhislateexperiences。AlreadytheyhadfadedfromhismemorywiththedepartureofhiscompatriotsfromSt。Kentigern。
Hewassmokingbythefireinthebilliard-roomlateonenightwhenafellow-guestapproachedhim。
\"Sawyoudidn\'tremembermeatdinner。”
Thevoicewashesitating，pleasant，andnotquiteunfamiliar。Theconsullookedup，andidentifiedthefigurebeforehimasoneofthenewarrivalsthatday，whom，intheinformalandeasycourtesyofthehouse，hehadmetwithnofurtherintroductionthanavaguesmile。Heremembered，too，thatthestrangerhadglancedathimonceortwiceatdinner，withshybutengagingreserve。
\"Youmustseesuchalotofpeople，andthewaythingsarearrangedandsettledhereeverybodyexpectstolookandactlikeeverybodyelse，don\'tyouknow，soyoucan\'ttellonechapfromanother。