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morning my suspicions were confirmed by reading that he had been
present at a tea…party given on the terrace by Mr。 Will Crooks。 Mr。
Parable conveyed to me the suggestion of a man absorbed in thought；
and not quite aware of what he was doing； but in this； of course； I
may have been mistaken。 He paused for a moment to look over the
railings at the pelican。 Mr。 Parable said something to the pelican
which I was not near enough to overhear； and then； still apparently
in a state of abstraction； crossed the path and seated himself on
the chair next to that occupied by the young lady。
From the tree against which I was standing I was able to watch the
subsequent proceedings unobserved。 The lady looked at Mr。 Parable
and then turned away and smiled to herself。 It was a peculiar
smile； and； again in some way I am unable to explain； reminded me of
my first wife。 It was not till the pelican put down his other leg
and walked away that Mr。 Parable； turning his gaze westward； became
aware of the lady's presence。
From information that has subsequently come to my knowledge； I am
prepared to believe that Mr。 Parable； from the beginning； really
thought the lady was a friend of his。 What the lady thought is a
matter for conjecture； I can only speak to the facts。 Mr。 Parable
looked at the lady once or twice。 Indeed； one might say with truth
that he kept on doing it。 The lady； it must be admitted； behaved
for a while with extreme propriety； but after a time； as I felt must
happen； their eyes met； and then it was I heard her say：
〃Good evening； Mr。 Parable。〃
She accompanied the words with the same peculiar smile to which I
have already alluded。 The exact words of Mr。 Parable's reply I
cannot remember。 But it was to the effect that he had thought from
the first that he had known her but had not been quite sure。 It was
at this point that； thinking I saw my colleague approaching； I went
to meet him。 I found I was mistaken； and slowly retraced my steps。
I passed Mr。 Parable and the lady。 They were talking together with
what I should describe as animation。 I went as far as the southern
extremity of the suspension bridge； and must have waited there quite
ten minutes before returning eastward。 It was while I was passing
behind them on the grass； partially screened by the rhododendrons；
that I heard Mr。 Parable say to the lady：
〃Why shouldn't we have it together？〃
To which the lady replied：
〃But what about Miss Clebb？〃
I could not overhear what followed； owing to their sinking their
voices。 It seemed to be an argument。 It ended with the young lady
laughing and then rising。 Mr。 Parable also rose； and they walked
off together。 As they passed me I heard the lady say：
〃I wonder if there's any place in London where you're not likely to
be recognised。〃
Mr。 Parable； who gave me the idea of being in a state of growing
excitement； replied quite loudly：
〃Oh； let 'em！〃
I was following behind them when the lady suddenly stopped。
〃I know！〃 she said。 〃The Popular Cafe。〃
The park…keeper said he was convinced he would know the lady again；
having taken particular notice of her。 She had brown eyes and was
wearing a black hat supplemented with poppies。
* * *
Arthur Horton； waiter at the Popular Cafe； states as follows：
I know Mr。 John Parable by sight。 Have often heard him speak at
public meetings。 Am a bit of a Socialist myself。 Remember his
dining at the Popular Cafe on the evening of Thursday。 Didn't
recognise him immediately on his entrance for two reasons。 One was
his hat； and the other was his girl。 I took it from him and hung it
up。 I mean； of course； the hat。 It was a brand…new bowler； a
trifle ikey about the brim。 Have always associated him with a soft
grey felt。 But never with girls。 Females； yes； to any extent。 But
this was the real article。 You know what I meanthe sort of girl
that you turn round to look after。 It was she who selected the
table in the corner behind the door。 Been there before； I should
say。
I should； in the ordinary course of business； have addressed Mr。
Parable by name； such being our instructions in the case of
customers known to us。 But； putting the hat and the girl together；
I decided not to。 Mr。 Parable was all for our three…and…six…penny
table d'hote； he evidently not wanting to think。 But the lady
wouldn't hear of it。
〃Remember Miss Clebb；〃 she reminded him。
Of course； at the time I did not know what was meant。 She ordered
thin soup； a grilled sole； and cutlets au gratin。 It certainly
couldn't have been the dinner。 With regard to the champagne； he
would have his own way。 I picked him out a dry '94； that you might
have weaned a baby on。 I suppose it was the whole thing combined。
It was after the sole that I heard Mr。 Parable laugh。 I could
hardly credit my ears； but half…way through the cutlets he did it
again。
There are two kinds of women。 There is the woman who； the more she
eats and drinks； the stodgier she gets； and the woman who lights up
after it。 I suggested a peche Melba between them； and when I
returned with it； Mr。 Parable was sitting with his elbows on the
table gazing across at her with an expression that I can only
describe as quite human。 It was when I brought the coffee that he
turned to me and asked：
〃What's doing？ Nothing stuffy；〃 he added。 〃Is there an Exhibition
anywheresomething in the open air？〃
〃You are forgetting Miss Clebb；〃 the lady reminded him。
〃For two pins；〃 said Mr。 Parable； 〃I would get up at the meeting and
tell Miss Clebb what I really think about her。〃
I suggested the Earl's Court Exhibition； little thinking at the time
what it was going to lead to； but the lady at first wouldn't hear of
it； and the party at the next table calling for their bill （they had
asked for it once or twice before； when I came to think of it）； I
had to go across to them。
When I got back the argument had just concluded； and the lady was
holding up her finger。
〃On condition that we leave at half…past nine； and that you go
straight to Caxton Hall；〃 she said。
〃We'll see about it；〃 said Mr。 Parable； and offered me half a crown。
Tips being against the rules； I couldn't take it。 Besides； one of
the jumpers had his eye on me。 I explained to him； jocosely； that I
was doing it for a bet。 He was surprised when I handed him his hat；
but； the lady whispering to him； he remembered himself in time。
As they went out together I heard Mr。 Parable say to the lady：
〃It's funny what a shocking memory I have for names。〃
To which the lady replied：
〃You'll think it funnier still to…morrow。〃 And then she laughed。
Mr。 Horton thought he would know the lady again。 He puts down her
age at about twenty…six； describing herto use his own piquant
expressionas 〃a bit of all right。〃 She had brown eyes and a
taking way with her。
* * *
Miss Ida Jenks； in charge of the Eastern Cigarette Kiosk at the
Earl's Court Exhibition； gives the following particulars：
From where I generally stand I can easily command a view of the
interior of the Victoria Hall； that is； of course； to say when the
doors are open； as on a warm night is usually the case。
On the evening of Thursday； the twenty…seventh； it was fairly well
occupied； but not to any great extent。 One couple attracted my
attention by reason of the gentleman's erratic steering。 Had he
been my partner I should have suggested a polka； the tango not being
the sort of dance that can be picked up in an evening。 What I mean
to say is； that he struck me as being more willing than experienced。
Some of the bumps she got would have made me cross； but we all have
our fancies； and； so far as I could judge； they both appeared to be
enjoying themselves。 It was after the 〃Hitchy Koo〃 that they came
outside。
The seat to the left of the door is popular by reason of its being
partly screened by bushes； but by leaning forward a little it is
quite possible for me to see what goes on there。 They were the
first couple out； having had a bad collision near the bandstand； so
easily secured it。 The gentleman was laughing。
There was something about him from the first that made me think I
knew him； and when he took off his hat to wipe his head it came to
me all of a sudden； he being the exact image of his effigy at Madame
Tussaud's； which； by a curious coincidence； I happened to have
visited with a friend that very afternoon。 The lady was what some
people would call good…looking； and others mightn't。
I was watching them； naturally a little interested。 Mr。 Parable； in
helping the lady to adjust her cloak； drew herit may have been by
accidenttowards him； and then it was that a florid gentleman with
a short pipe in his mouth stepped forward and addressed the lady。
He raised his hat and； remarking 〃Good evening；〃 added that he hoped
she was 〃having a pleasant time。〃 His tone； I should explain； was
sarcastic。
The young woman； whatever else may be said of her； struck me as
behaving quite correctly。 Replying to his salutation with a cold
and distant bow； she rose； and； turning to Mr。 Parable； o