said, holding out his hand. "Are you
staying down here for long?"

"For two days, I believe," Mr. Fielding answered. "My daughter makes our
plans."

He spoke very slowly, but without any accent. Nothing in his appearance,
except perhaps the fact that he wore a black evening tie, accorded with
the popular ideas of the travelling American.

"If you have an hour to spare," Duncombe said, "it would give me a great
deal of pleasure if you and your daughter would walk down and have a
look over my place. Part of the hall is Elizabethan, and I have some
relics which might interest Miss Fielding."

Mr. Fielding removed the cigarette from his mouth.

"I thank you very much, sir," he said. "We are Lord Runton's guests, and
our stay is so short that we could scarcely make any arrangements to
visit elsewhere. Glad to have had the pleasure of meeting you all the
same."

Duncombe sought out his host.

"Runton, old chap," he said, "do me a favor. Bring that fellow Fielding
and his daughter round to my place before they go."

Lord Runton laughed heartily.

"Is it a case?" he exclaimed. "And you, our show bachelor, too! Never
mind my chaff, old chap. She's a ripping good-looking girl, and money
enough to buy the country."

"I don't mind your chaff," Duncombe answered, "but will you bring her?"

Lord Runton looked thoughtful.

"How the dickens can I? We are all shooting at the Duke's to-morrow, and
I believe they're off on Saturday. You're not in earnest by any chance,
are you, George?"

"Damnably!" he answered.

Lord Runton whistled softly.

"Fielding doesn't shoot," he remarked, "but they're going with us to
Beaumanor. Shall I drop him a hint? He might stay a day longer--just to
make a few inquiries about you on the spot, you know."

"Get him to stay a day longer, if you can," Duncombe answered, "but
don't give me away. The old chap's none too cordial as it is."

"I must talk to him," Runton said. "Your Baronetcy is a thundering sight
better than any of these mushroom peerages. He probably doesn't
understand that sort of thing. But what about the girl? Old Von Rothe
has been making the running pretty strong, you know."

"We all have to take our chance in that sort of thing," Duncombe said
quietly. "I am not afraid of Von Rothe!"

"I'll do what I can for you," Runton promised. "Good night!"

Andrew, who had left an hour or so earlier, was sitting in the library
smoking a pipe when his host returned.

"Not gone