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 from the beginning; and interrupted Hickey with scant consideration, in the middle of a most interesting exposition.

"You'll pardon me, I'm sure, if I trouble you again for the time."

The fat red fingers sought uncertainly for the timepiece: the bottle was now empty. The hour, as announced, was ten minutes to two.

"I've an engagement," invented Anisty plausibly, "with a friend at two. If you'll excuse me? Garçon, l'addition!"

"Then I und'stand, Mister Maitland, we c'n count on yeh?"

Anisty, eyelids drooping, tipped back his chair a trifle and regarded Hickey with a fair imitation of the whimsical Maitland smile. "Hardly, I think."

"Why not?"—truculently.

"To be frank with you, I have three excellent reasons. The first should be sufficient: I'm too lazy."

Disgruntled, Hickey stared and shook a disapproving head. "I was afraid of that; yeh swells