What makes you ask about him ?" "Oh, nothing, only he hasn't been here since you got back." "How did you come to know him ?" "Didn't I take up his name a dozen times in the last month ?" "Get out," said the drummer, lightly.

"He hasn't called more than half a dozen times since we've been here." "He hasn't, eh ?" said the girl, smiling.

"That's all you know about it." Drouet took on a slightly more serious tone.

He was uncertain as to whether she was joking or not.
"Tease," he said, "what makes you smile that way ?" "Oh, nothing." "Have you seen him recently ?" "Not since you came back," she laughed.
"Before ?" "Certainly." "How often ?" "Why, nearly every day." She was a mischievous newsmonger, and was keenly wondering what the effect of her words would be.
"Who did he come to see ?" asked the drummer, incredulously.
"Mrs.Drouet." He looked rather foolish at this answer, and then attempted to correct himself so as not to appear a dupe.
"Well," he said, "what of it ?" "Nothing," replied the girl, her head cocked coquettishly on one side.
"He's an old friend," he went on, getting deeper into the mire.
He would have gone on further with his little flirtation, but the taste for it was temporarily removed.

He was quite relieved when the girl's named was called from below.
"I've got to go," she said, moving away from him airily.
"I'll see you later," he said, with a pretence of disturbance at being interrupted.
When she was gone, he gave freer play to his feelings.