“As regards that I shall not inform you at present; for, indeed, I am by no means certain what my destination will be.  Largely speaking, no pub —­public man,” he stammered, doubtful whether he was any longer that, “knows where he will be going to-morrow.  Sufficient unto the day are the intentions in his head.

“Well, sir,” said Mrs. Petty frankly, “you can’t go anywhere without Joe or me, that’s flat.”

Mr. Lavender smiled.

“Dear Mrs. Petty,” he murmured, “there are sacrifices one cannot demand even of the most faithful friends.  But,” he went on with calculated playfulness, “we need not consider that point until the day after to-morrow at least, for I have much to do in the meantime.”

Reassured by those words and the knowledge that Mr. Lavender’s plans seldom remained the same for more than two days, Mrs. Petty tossed her head slightly and went to the door.  “Well, it is a mystery, I’m sure,” she said.

“I should like to see Joe,” said Mr. Lavender, with a lingering look at his devoted housekeeper.

“The beauty!” muttered Mrs. Petty; “I’ll send him,” and withdrew.

Giving the morsel of cheese to Blink, who, indeed, had eaten practically the whole of this last meal, Mr. Lavender took the moon-cat on his shoulder, and abandoned himself for a moment to the caresses of his two favourites.

“Blink,” he said in a voice which trembled slightly, “be good to this moon-cat while I am away; and if I am longer than you expect, darling, do not be unhappy.  Perhaps some day you will rejoin me; and even if we are not destined to meet again, I would not, in the fashion of cruel men, wish to hinder your second marriage, or to stand in the way of your happy forgetfulness of me.  Be as light-hearted as you can, my dear, and wear no mourning for your master.”

So saying, he flung his arms round her, and embraced her warmly, inhaling with the most poignant emotion her sheep-like odour.  He was still engaged with her when the door was opened, and Joe came in.

“Joe,” said Mr. Lavender resolutely, “sit down and light your pipe.  You will find a bottle of pre-war port in the sideboard.  Open it, and, drink my health; indeed, I myself will drink it too, for it may give me courage.  We have been good friends, Joe,” he went on while Joe was drawing the cork, “and have participated in pleasant and sharp adventures.  I have called you in at this moment, which may some day seem to you rather solemn, partly to shake your hand and partly to resume the discussion on public men which we held some days ago, if you remember.”

“Ah!” said Joe, with his habitual insouciance, “when I told you that they give me the ’ump.”

“Yes, what abaht it, sir?  ‘Ave they been sayin’ anything particular vicious?” His face flying up just then with the cork which he was extracting encountered the expression on Mr. Lavender’s visage, and he added:  “Don’t take wot I say to ’eart, sir; try as you like you’ll never be a public man.”