CHAPTER II. — SYMPATHY IN SORROW

“Give me,” observed Sir Roger Deane, “Cannes, a fine day, a good set to look at, a beehive chair, a good cigar, a cocktail on one side and a nice girl on the other, and there I am! I don’t want anything else.”

General Bellairs pulled his white mustache and examined Sir Roger’s figure and surroundings with a smile.

“Then only Lady Deane is wanting to your complete happiness,” said he.

“Maud is certainly a nice girl, but when she deserts me——”

“Where is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“I do,” interposed a young man, who wore an eye—glass and was in charge of a large jug. “She’s gone to Monte.”

“I might have known,” said Sir Roger. “Being missed here always means you’ve gone to Monte—like not being at church means you’ve gone to Brighton.”