Quite unconcerned at the presence of the man, she poured out a cup of tea; carried it to the mantelpiece; and began to arrange her hair before the glass.

He, without looking round, completed the arrangement of his tie, looked at it earnestly for a moment, and said, "Have you got a pin about you ?" "There is one in the pincushion on my table," she said; "but I think it's a black one.

I dont know where the deuce all the pins go to." Then, casting off the subject, she whistled a long and florid cadenza, and added, by way of instrumental interlude, a remarkably close imitation of a violoncello.

Meanwhile the man went into her room for the pin.

On his return she suddenly became curious, and said, "Where are you going to-night, if one may ask ?" "I am going out." She looked at him for a moment, and turned contemptuously to the mirror, saying, "Thank you.