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and stretched his legs and filled his lungs twice with so evident an
enjoyment that several people smiled。
His comfort was soon disturbed； however； by an influx of people
boarding the car at Twenty…third Street。 The seats were immediately
filled； and late comers found themselves obliged to stand in the
aisle。 Among these were several women。 The men nearest buried
themselves in the papers after the almost universal metropolitan
custom。 Two or three arose to offer their seats； among them Orde。
When； however； the latter had turned to indicate to one of the women
the vacated seat； he discovered it occupied by a chubby and flashily
dressed youth of the sort common enough in the vicinity of
Fourteenth Street； impudent of eye； cynical of demeanour； and
slightly contemptuous of everything unaccustomed。 He had slipped in
back of Orde when that young man arose； whether under the impression
that Orde was about to get off the car or from sheer impudence； it
would be impossible to say。
Orde stared at him； a little astonished。
〃I intended that seat for this lady；〃 said Orde； touching him on the
shoulder。
The youth looked up coolly。
〃You don't come that！〃 said he。
Orde wasted no time in discussion； which no doubt saved the
necessity of a more serious disturbance。 He reached over suddenly；
seized the youth by the collar； braced his knee against the seat；
and heaved the interloper so rapidly to his feet that he all but
plunged forward among the passengers sitting opposite。
〃Your seat； madam；〃 said Orde。
The woman； frightened； unwilling to become the participant of a
scene of any sort； stood looking here and there。 Orde；
comprehending her embarrassment； twisted his antagonist about； and；
before he could recover his equilibrium sufficiently to offer
resistance； propelled him rapidly to the open door； the passengers
hastily making way for them。
〃Now； my friend；〃 said Orde； releasing his hold on the other's
collar； 〃don't do such things any more。 They aren't nice。〃
Trivial as the incident was； it served to draw Orde to the
particular notice of an elderly man leaning against the rear rail。
He was a very well…groomed man； dressed in garments whose fit was
evidently the product of the highest art； well buttoned up； well
brushed； well cared for in every way。 In his buttonhole he wore a
pink carnation； and in his gloved hand he carried a straight； gold…
headed cane。 A silk hat covered his head； from beneath which showed
a slightly empurpled countenance； with bushy white eyebrows； a white
moustache； and a pair of rather bloodshot； but kindly； blue eyes。
In spite of his somewhat pudgy rotundity； he carried himself quite
erect； in a manner that bespoke the retired military man。
〃You have courage； sir；〃 said this gentleman； inclining his bead
gravely to Orde。
The young man laughed in his good…humoured fashion。
〃Not much courage required to root out that kind of a skunk；〃 said
he cheerfully。
〃I refer to the courage of your convictions。 The young men of this
generation seem to prefer to avoid public disturbances。 That breed
is quite capable of making a row； calling the police； raising the
deuce； and all that。〃
〃What of it？〃 said Orde。
The elderly gentleman puffed out his cheeks。
〃You are from the West； are you not？〃 he stated； rather than asked。
〃We call it the East out there；〃 said Orde。 〃It's Michigan。〃
〃I should call that pretty far west；〃 said the old gentleman。
Nothing more was said。 After a block or two Orde descended on his
way to a small hotel just off Broadway。 The old gentleman saluted。
Orde nodded good…humouredly。 In his private soul he was a little
amused at the old boy。 To his view a man and clothes carried to
their last refinement were contradictory terms。
Orde ate； dressed； and set out afoot in search of Miss Bishop's
address。 He arrived in front of the house a little past eight
o'clock； and； after a moment's hesitation； mounted the steps and
rang the bell。
The door swung silently back to frame an impassive man…servant
dressed in livery。 To Orde's inquiry he stated that Miss Bishop had
gone out to the theatre。 The young man left his name and a message
of regret。 At this the footman； with an irony so subtle as to be
quite lost on Orde； demanded a card。 Orde scribbled a line in his
note…book； tore it out； folded it； and left it。 In it he stated his
regret； his short residence in the city； and desired an early
opportunity to call。 Then he departed down the brownstone steps；
totally unconscious of the contempt he had inspired in the heart of
the liveried man behind him。
He retired early and arose early； as had become his habit。 When he
descended to the office the night clerk； who had not yet been
relieved； handed him a note delivered the night before。 Orde ripped
it open eagerly。
〃MY DEAR MR。 ORDE：
〃I was so sorry to miss you that evening because of a stupid play。
Come around as early as you can to…morrow morning。 I shall expect
you。
〃Sincerely yours；
〃CARROLL BISHOP。〃
Orde glanced at the clock； which pointed to seven。 He breakfasted；
read the morning paper； finally started leisurely in the direction
of West Ninth Street。 He walked slowly； so as to consume more time；
then at University Place was seized with a panic； and hurried
rapidly to his destination。 The door was answered by the same man
who had opened the night before； but now； in some indefinable way；
his calm； while flawless externally； seemed to have lifted to a mere
surface； as though he might hastily have assumed his coat。 To
Orde's inquiry he stated with great brevity that Miss Bishop was not
yet visible； and prepared to close the door。
〃You are mistaken；〃 said Orde； with equal brevity； and stepped
inside。 〃I have an engagement with Miss Bishop。 Tell her Mr。 Orde
is here。〃
The man departed in some doubt； leaving Orde standing in the gloomy
hall。 That young man； however； quite cheerfully parted the heavy
curtains leading into a parlour； and sat down in a spindle…legged
chair。 At his entrance； a maid disappeared out another door；
carrying with her the implements of dusting and brushing。
Orde looked around the room with some curiosity。 It was long；
narrow； and very high。 Tall windows admitted light at one end。 The
illumination was； however； modified greatly by hangings of lace
covering all the windows； supplemented by heavy draperies drawn back
to either side。 The embrasure was occupied by a small table； over
which seemed to flutter a beautiful marble Psyche。 A rubber plant；
then as now the mark of the city and suburban dweller； sent aloft
its spare； shiny leaves alongside a closed square piano。 The lack
of ornaments atop the latter bespoke the musician。 Through the
filtered gloom of the dem