r slender form trip
off towards the gate which was opposite the Inn, her last words ringing
in his ears in answer to his final question.

"No, I shall not fail--I will leave the Crown at nine o'clock exactly on
Thursday."

Then turning, he retraced his steps to his sitting-room, and there found
Henry Fordyce returned.

CHAPTER III

"Well, old boy!" Mr. Fordyce greeted him with. "You should have been
with me and had a good round of golf--but perhaps, though, you have made
up your mind!"

Michael flung himself into his great chair.

"Yes--I have--and I have got a fiancee."

Mr. Fordyce was not disturbed; he did not even answer this absurd
remark, he just puffed his cigar--cigarettes were beneath his notice.

"You don't seem very interested," his host ejaculated, rather
aggrievedly.

"Tommyrot!"

"I tell you, it is true. I have got a fiancee."

"My dear fellow, you are mad!"

"No, I assure you I am quite sane--I have found a way out of the
difficulty--an angel has dropped from the clouds to save me from Violet
Hatfield."

Henry Fordyce was actually startled. Michael looked as though he were
talking seriously.

"But where did she come from? What the--Oh! I have no patience with you,
you old fool! You are playing some comedy upon me!"

"Henry, I give you my word, I'm not--I am going to marry a most
presentable young person at nine o'clock on Thursday night in the chapel
here--and you are going to stay and be best man." Then his excitement
began to rise again, and he got up from his chair and paced up and down
restlessly. "It is the very thing. She wants her money and I want my
freedom. She gets hers by marriage, and I get mine. I don't care a rush
for domestic bliss, it has never appealed to me; and the fellow in
Australia who'll come after me has got a boy who will do all right, no
doubt, for the old place by and by. I shall have a perfectly free time
and no responsibilities--and, thank the Lord! no more women for me for
the future. I have done with the snakes. I shall be happy and free for
the first time for a whole year!"

Mr. Fordyce actually let his cigar go out. This incredible story was
beginning to have an effect upon him.

"But where did she come from?" he asked blandly, as one speaks to a
harmless imbecile. "I leave you here in an abject state of despair,
ready almost to decide upon marrying old Bessie, and I return in an hour
and you inform me everything is settled, and you are the