Moreover, he would then be much more likely to go home, or to some address which it would be useful to know.  What a very womanish scheme theirs had been, after all; Helen told herself that the most stupid man imaginable could have placed his finger upon its weak spot immediately.

But her mind was made up.  If it were possible, she would warn Denise of the change of plan; if it were not, then she must rely upon her friend to see through the ruse which she was about to practise upon the Greek.

“Good night, Mr. Gianapolis!” she said abruptly, and held out her hand to the smiling man.  His smile faded.  “I should love to join you, but really you must know that it’s impossible.  I will arrange to make up a party, with pleasure, if you will let me know where I can ’phone you?”

“But,” he began...

“Many thanks, it’s really impossible; there are limits even to the escapades allowed under the cloak of ‘Copy’!  Where can I communicate with you?”

“Oh! how disappointed I am!  But I must permit you to know your own wishes better than I can hope to know them, Miss Cumberly.  Therefore”—­Helen was persistently holding out her hand—­“good night!  Might I venture to telephone to you in the morning?  We could then come to some arrangement, no doubt"...

“You might not find me at home"...

“But at nine o’clock!”

“It allows me no time to make up my party!”

“But such a party must not exceed three:  yourself and two others"...

“Nevertheless, it has to be arranged.”

“I shall ring up to-morrow evening, and if you are not at home, your maid will tell me when you are expected to return.”

Helen quite clearly perceived that no address and no telephone number were forthcoming.

“You are committing yourself to endless and unnecessary trouble, Mr. Gianapolis, but if you really wish to do as you suggest, let it be so.  Good night!”

She barely touched his extended hand, turned, and ran fleetly back toward the door of Palace Mansions.  Ere reaching the entrance, however, she dropped a handkerchief, stooped to recover it, and glanced back rapidly.

Gianapolis was just turning the corner.

Helen perceived the unmistakable form of Denise Ryland lurking in the Palace Mansions doorway, and, waving frantically to her friend, who was nonplussed at this change of tactics, she hurried back again to the corner and peeped cautiously after the retreating Greek.

There was a cab rank some fifty paces beyond, with three taxis stationed there.  If Gianapolis chartered a cab, and she were compelled to follow in another, would Denise come upon the scene in time to take up the prearranged role of sleuth-hound?

Gianapolis hesitated only for a few seconds; then, shrugging his shoulders, he stepped out into the road and into the first cab on the rank.  The man cranked his engine, leapt into his seat and drove off.  Helen Cumberly, ignoring the curious stares of the two remaining taxi-men, ran out from the shelter of the corner and jumped into the next cab, crying breathlessly: