For a few minutes after finding the handkerchief at his door, Alan experienced a feeling of mingled curiosity and disappointment--also a certain resentment.

The suspicion that he was becoming involved in spite of himself was not altogether pleasant.

The evening, up to a certain point, had been fairly entertaining.

It was true he might have passed a pleasanter hour recalling old times with Stampede Smith, or discussing Kadiak bears with the English earl, or striking up an acquaintance with the unknown graybeard who had voiced an opinion about John Graham.

But he was not regretting lost hours, nor was he holding Mary Standish accountable for them.