"It is simply glorious to hear you raving so, old bird!" Michael
laughed. "When I think of the lectures you used to give me about
women--mere recreations for a man's leisure moments, I think you called
them, and not to be taken seriously in a man's real life!"

"I have completely changed my opinions," Lord Fordyce announced, rather
nettled. "So would any man if he knew Mrs. Howard."

"Howard?" asked Michael--"but anyone can be a Talbot or a Howard or a
Cavendish out there--so she is a Mrs. Howard, is she? I wonder who the
husband was--I had a rascally cousin of that name who went to
Arizona--perhaps she married him."

"Her husband was an American," Henry rejoined, "and is in a madhouse or
an institution for inebriates, I believe."

"Well, I wish you all joy, Henry, I do, indeed--and I promise you I will
do all I can to help you through with it. I won't retaliate for your
thundering niggardness five years ago, when you would not even be my
best man, do you remember?"

"This is quite different, my dear boy," Lord Fordyce assured him with
dignity. "You were going to do what I thought a most casual thing, just
for your own ends, but I--Michael--" and his cultivated voice vibrated
with feeling--"I love this woman as I never thought I should love
anything on God's earth."

"Then here's to you!" said Mr. Arranstoun, and ringing the bell for the
waiter, ordered a pint of champagne to drink his friend's health.

So they had started in the motor after breakfast next day and that night
slept at St. Malo--getting to Heronac without adventure the following
afternoon.

When no telegram was awaiting Lord Fordyce at ---- where they
breakfasted, he remarked to Michael:

"She does not mind your coming--or she would have wired--I wish I were
as indifferent about it--Michael--" and Henry stammered a
little--"you'll promise me as a friend--you will not look into her eyes
with your confounded blue ones and try to cut me out."

For some reason this appeal touched something in Michael's heart, his
voice was full of cordiality and his blue bold eyes swam with kindly
affection as he answered:

"I'm not a beast, Henry--and I don't want every woman I see--and anyone
you fancied would in any case be sacred to me," and he held out his
hand. "Give you my word as I told you before, I'll not only promise you
on my honor that I'll not cut in myself, but I'll do everything I can to
help you, old man," then he laughed to hide the seriousness