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300 cotton-wool can do. See mine," and I exhibited my amber mouthpiece, which, miscrewing in the centre, contained a plug of wool.

"By Jove! An excellent idea. Where do you get them?" he inquired.

"I'll send you one," I said, laughing, "as souvenir of this meeting. And we shall meet again, I hope."

"Certainly. I'll be most pleased. But, I say," he added, "it's awfully good of you."

"Not at all," I declared, and, then the show being over, we strolled together down Shaftesbury Avenue as far as Piccadilly Circus, where we parted.

Next day I sent him the cigarette-tube by post, and three days afterwards called at his chambers, having previously rung him up on the telephone.

The instant I entered his cosy sitting-room in the twilight of the wintry afternoon, I saw that at least I had successfully accomplished one point.

But I remained silent, took the cigarette he offered me, and sank into the big arm-chair beside the fire.

For some time we chatted merrily, the room