“You see,” she said advancing quickly and acting her words, “he placed his hands on my shoulders—­so—­then threw his arms about my neck—­so.”

She said no more, but imprinted a deep, passionate kiss on Kennedy’s mouth, clinging closely to him.  Before Kennedy could draw away, Dan, in the closet, had pressed the button and the switch several times in rapid succession.

“Th-that’s very realistic,” gasped Craig, a good deal taken aback by the sudden osculatory assault.

He frowned.

“I—­I’ll look into the case,” he said, backing away.  “There may be some scientific explanation—­but—­er—­”

He was plainly embarrassed and hastened to make his adieux.

Kennedy had no more than shut the door before Dan, with a gleeful laugh, burst out of the closet and flung his own arms about Florrie in an embrace that might have been poisoned, it is true, but was none the less real for that.

. . . . . . . .

How little impression the thing made on Kennedy can be easily seen from the fact that on the way downtown that afternoon he stopped at Martin’s, on Fifth Avenue, and bought a ring—­a very handsome solitaire, the finest Martin had in the shop.

It must have been about the time that he decided to stop at Martin’s that the Dodge butler, Jennings, admitted a young lady who presented a card on which was engraved the name

Miss Florence Leigh 20 Prospect Avenue.

As he handed Elaine the card, she looked up from the book she was reading and took it.

“I don’t know her,” she said puckering her pretty brow.  “Do you?  What does she look like?”

“I never saw her before, Miss Elaine,” Jennings shrugged.  “But she is very well dressed.”

“All right, show her in, Jennings.  I’ll see her.”

Elaine moved into the drawing room, Jennings springing forward to part the portieres for her and passing through the room quickly where Flirty Florrie sat waiting.  Flirty Florrie rose and stood gazing at Elaine, apparently very much embarrassed, even after Jennings had gone.

There was a short pause.  The woman was the first to speak.

“It is embarrassing,” she said finally, “but, Miss Dodge, I have come to you to beg for my love.”

Elaine looked at her non-plussed.

“Yes,” she continued, “you do not know it, but Craig Kennedy is infatuated with you.”  She paused again, then added, “But he is engaged to me.”

Elaine stared at the woman.  She was dazed.  She could not believe it.

“There is the ring,” Flirty Florrie added indicating a very impressive paste diamond.

Elaine frowned but said nothing.  Her head was in a whirl.  She could not believe.  Although Florrie was very much embarrassed, she was quite as evidently very much wrought up.  Quickly she reached into her bag and drew out two photographs, without a word, handing them to Elaine.  Elaine took them reluctantly.