He turned at the corner in time to see the captain and his friend standing on the doorsteps of the Lackland house, and as he saw an indefinable and intangible shadow crept over him and chilled him.
By some strange course of reasoning or feeling, he had grown to connect the captain with every mishap of his life.
What were he and his friend doing thus early at Lackland house?
Casting from him the dim foreboding which had fallen upon him at the sight of Howard Murpoint and Mr. Smythe, Bertie hurried to the park.
It was the unfashionable hour—at eleven the Upper Ten are either in bed or just thinking of breakfast—and the Row was nearly empty.
Bertie did not meet with much difficulty in finding his quarry, for they were galloping up and down the tan in the height of enjoyment.
Ethel saw Bertie first, and exclaimed:
"Fitz, there is Bert—Mr. Fairfax."
"What, Bert out of his den as early as this! Hello, old fellow," he exclaimed, as Bert came up, "what's the matter? Temple burned down?"
"No," said Bert, "not that I am aware of."