THE DOUBLE ALIBI i6i 



Oxford, and I told her of his longings for the 

 Theocritus. Miss Breton at once was eager to 

 see the book, and the other books, and I obtained 

 leave to go with her and Mrs. Breton to the 

 auction-rooms next day. The little side-room 

 where the treasures were displayed was empty, 

 except for an attendant, when we went in ; we 

 looked at the things and made learned remarks, 

 but I admit that I was more concerned to look 

 at Miss Breton than at any work in leather by 

 Derome or Bauzonnet. We were thus a good 

 deal occupied, perhaps, with each other ; people 

 came and went, while our heads were bent over 

 a case of volumes under the window. When we 

 did leave, on the appeal of Mrs. Breton, we both 

 — both I and Kate — Miss Breton, I mean — saw 

 Allen — at least I saw him, and believed she did — 

 absorbed in gazing at the Longepierre Theocritus. 

 He held it rather near his face ; the gas, which 

 had been lit, fell on the shining Golden Fleeces 

 of the cover, on his long thin hands and eager 

 studious features. It would have been a pity to 

 disturb him in his ecstasy. I looked, at Miss 



M 



