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Rh enact the part of eavesdropper, but this was a case in which I found myself helpless. A discussion which at first I thought was merely an ordinary after-dinner conversation between two members of the Club, suddenly developed into something important, revolving around your name, and from there on to the end of it, it would have been more embarrassing had I revealed myself than inconvenient if I stayed where I was. Of course, this being a private conference, I should not have thought of revealing its nature to you were it not that everything said about you was such that you might be gratified to hear. As the talk went on, I resolved to meet you if possible, and although I learned from what I heard that a letter of introduction was quite inefficient, yet I also gathered that there was a method by which your acquaintance might be made if a person had but a little tact and courage, or perhaps you would call it cheek. This method I have just put into operation with such success that I am now sitting opposite to you, with my legs under your mahogany, enjoying a most excellent repast."

Lord Stranleigh laughed, and raised his champagne glass.

"Well, here's to our better acquaintance," he said. "What you say shows how little a man really knows himself. I had never imagined I was a human Port Arthur, to be approached by such military-like strategy, and finally captured by courage