"And you followed her here, Mr. Moore?"
"Yes, sir, I made a pretence of studying law in the Middle Temple, but it was wretched work which I soon abandoned. Since then I 've been scribbling for a living and not achieving much success at it, though I have done my best."
"I see," said Brooking, reflectively.
"Did Bessie give you my address?"
"Not she," replied his lordship. "I 've not had the pleasure of renewing my acquaintance with Mistress Dyke."
"She and her father go everywhere," said Moore, proudly. "Thanks to Sir Percival's influence, they have been received by society with open arms. The old gentleman's poems sell, and Bessie is more than ordinarily successful at Drury Lane."
"I am not surprised at the young lady's success," observed the young nobleman. "That of her father in the world of letters would have seemed to me problematical had I not your assurance of his prosperity."
"Then if Bessie did not tell you where I lived, how did you find me out?"
"I lunched to-day at Mrs. FitzHerbert's. There I saw a poem with your name and address attached."
Moore gave Buster a grateful glance which more than repaid that young gentleman for his enterprise.