“That’s me, then, isn’t it?  The way you’re abusing me, Mademoiselle, listening here to Van Camp all the evening!”

But Melanie, tired, perhaps, of being patiently tactful, settled the matter.  “I can’t go to luncheon with anybody, to-morrow,” she protested.  “I’ve had a touch of that arch-enemy, indigestion, you see; and I can’t do anything but my prescribed exercises, nor drink anything but distilled water—­”

“Nor eat anything but food!  We know,” cried the irrepressible Jones.  “But the Little Gray Fox has a special diet for just such cases as yours.  Do come!”

“Heavens!  Then I don’t want to go there!” groaned Aleck.

Melanie gave Jones her hand, half in thanks and half in farewell.  “No, thank you, not to-morrow, but sometime soon; perhaps Thursday.  Will that do?” she smiled.  Then, as Jones was discontentedly lounging about the door, she did a pretty thing.  Turning from the door, she stood with face averted from everybody except Van Camp, and for an instant her eyes met his in a friendly, half-humorous but wholly non-committal glance.  His eyes held hers in a look that was like an embrace.

“I will see you soon,” she said quietly.

Van Camp said good night to Jones at the corner, after they had walked together in silence for half a block.

“Good night, Van Camp,” said Jones; then he added cordially:  “By the way, I’m going back next week in my private car to watch the opening of the Liza Lu, and I’d be mighty glad if you’d go along.  Anything else to do?”

“Thanks—­extremely; but I’m going on a cruise.”

As Aleck entered the piously exclusive hall of the club his good nature came to his aid.  He wondered whether he hadn’t scored something, after all.

CHAPTER V.

MELANIE’S DREAMS

Midnight and the relaxation of slumber could subtract nothing from the high-browed dignity of the club officials, and the message that was waiting for Mr. Van Camp was delivered in the most correct manner.  “Mr. Hambleton sends word to Mr. Van Camp that he has gone away on the Jeanne D’Arc.  Mr. Hambleton may not be back for some time, and requests Mr. Van Camp to look after the Sea Gull.”

“Very well, thank you,” replied Aleck, rather absent-mindedly.  He was unable to see, immediately, just what change in his own plans this sudden turn of Jim’s would cause; and he was for the moment too deeply preoccupied with his own personal affairs to speculate much about it.  His thoughts went back to the events of the evening, recalled the picture of his Diana and her teasing ways, and dwelt especially upon the honest, friendly, wholly bewitching look that had flown to him at the end of the evening.  Absurd as his own attempt at a declaration had been, he somehow felt that he himself was not absurd in Melanie’s eyes, though he was far from certain whether she was inclined to marry him.