“By Jupiter!” Hamar ejaculated, “this divination of yours beats mine into fits—­nothing escapes you!”

“No!” Kelson laughed, “nothing!  Ella Barlow, metaphysical and physical was laid before me just as bare as if the Almighty had got hold of her with his dissecting knife.  I saw everything—­and what is more I said to myself—­here’s plenty I can turn to a profitable account.  Well!  I didn’t stop her—­I let her go.”

“Let her go!” Curtis growled, his mouth full of almonds and raisins.  “You squirrel!”

“Only for a time,” Kelson said, “I went to see Delmas!”

“Delmas!” Hamar interlocuted, “why the deuce Delmas?”

“Impulse!” Kelson explained, “purely impulse.”

“Yes, but impulse is often a dangerous thing!” Hamar said, “it is essential for us three, especially, to be on our guard against impulse.  What did you get out of Delmas?”

“Nothing!” Kelson said looking rather shamefaced, “But the matter hasn’t ended yet.  I’m going to the theatre after I’ve had something to eat.  I’ll tell you what happens, to-morrow.”

It was late ere Kelson came down to breakfast the following day, and Hamar and Curtis were comfortably seated in armchairs reading the Examiner, when he joined them.

“Well!” Hamar said, looking up at him, “what luck?”

But Kelson wouldn’t say a word till he had finished eating.  He then lolled back in his seat and began:—­

“Arriving at the Baldwyn I went straight to box one.  A tall figure rose to greet me, and then, an angry voice exclaimed, ’Why it’s not Herbert!  Who are you, sir?  Do you know this box is engaged?’

“‘I humbly beg your pardon, Miss Barlow,’ I said, ’I do know it is engaged, but I came as Mr. Delmas’ deputy and friend.’

“‘Came as Herbert’s deputy and friend,’ Ella Barlow repeated—­and by Jove the diamonds did shine—­she was simply a mass of them, hair, neck, arms and fingers—­and she had been so well faked up for the occasion that she was almost good-looking; but I thought of all I knew about her—­and shuddered.

“‘I will explain myself,’ I said, ’Mr. Delmas telephoned to you this afternoon, did he not?’

“She nodded.

“’Saying that he very much regretted he could not leave business in time to escort you here.  Would you mind very much going by yourself, and he would join you as soon as possible.’

“‘Yes,’ Ella Barlow said, ‘he told me all that.’

“‘Very well, then,’ I went on, ’he rang me up some minutes later and asked me if I would take his place for the first hour or so, and he would be here by the end of the first act.’

“‘But it is most unheard of,’ Ella Barlow ejaculated, ’I don’t know you—­I’ve never seen you before!’

“‘That is, of course, very regrettable,’ I said, ’but I will do all I can for the past.  I’ve something to say that I’m sure will interest you.  Have I your permission?’—­and without waiting for her reply I sat next to her.  The box was a big one, big enough to hold half a dozen people, and we sat in the extreme front of it.  The lights were not full up, as the orchestra had not started playing.  I kept her attention fixed on my face so that she was unaware what was taking place, immediately behind her.