"Do not be offended. You are a younger man. You do not play so well as he, my friend."
The "friend" came softly at the end. But Mr Davison chafed at the under-estimation of his powers.
"You think so because I have not won to-night. Let me tell you, for your satisfaction, that I was not afraid of meeting any man at the 'Varsity, and there are some first-rate players there."
The lady smiled.
"At the 'Varsity? I see." She opened the door. The dawn streamed in. "Good-night."
As Mr Davison strolled homewards he saw before him in the air, not a pack of cards, but a woman's eyes.
II
Mr Davison saw Mr Lintorn again at the eleven o'clock breakfast that morning.
"Find her father?" was Mr Lintorn's greeting to him as he took his seat.
"Find her father? Whose? Oh, Mdlle. de Fontanes'! No; I had to see her home."