His musical voice lingered with a curiously melancholy impressiveness on the last word,—and this time, not only Miss Chesney, but we all, looked at him as though drawn by some irresistible magnetic spell, and for a moment there was silence.
"Very few people have any real friends," said Lord Elton presently. "And in that respect I suppose we're none of us worse off than Socrates, who used to keep two chairs only in his house,—' one for myself and another for a friend—when I find him!' But you are a universal favourite, Lucio,—a most popular fellow,—and I think you're rather hard on your set. People must look after themselves you know—eh?"
Lucio bowed his head gravely.
"They must indeed," he replied; "especially as the latest news of science is that God has given up the business."
Miss F
