way, of course. If
anything is to come before you, it must come before you regularly. I
know that, Robert."

The Imp had no tact.

"Oh, no," she cried. "Do listen now, Mr Disney. Do promise to help us
now!"

Tact is not always the best thing in the world.

"If you'll tell me in two words, I'll listen," said Mr Disney.

"I--I can't do that. In two words? Oh, but please----"

He had turned away from her to Southend.

"Now then, Southend?"

Lord Southend felt that he must be courageous. After all the women were
there.

"In two words? Literally?"

Disney nodded, smiling grimly at Mina's clasped hands and imploring
face.

"Literally--if you can." There was a gratuitous implication that
Southend and the rest of the world were apt to be loquacious.

"Well, then," said Southend, "I will. What we want is----" After one
glance at Lady Evenswood, he got it out. "What we want is--a viscounty."

For a moment Mr Disney sat still. Then again he rose slowly.

"Have I tumbled into Bedlam?" he asked.

"It was done in the Bearsdale case," suggested Lady Evenswood. "Of
course there was a doubt there----"

"Anyhow a barony--but a viscounty would be more convenient," murmured
Southend.

Mina was puzzled. These mysteries were beyond her. She had never heard
of the Bearsdale case, and she did not understand why--in certain
circumstances--a viscounty would be more convenient. But she knew that
something was being urged which might meet the difficulty, and she kept
eager eyes on Mr Disney. Perhaps she would have done that anyhow; men
who rule heads and hearts can surely draw eyes also. Yet at the moment
he was not inspiring. He listened with a smile (was it not rather a
grin?) of sardonic ridicule.

"You made me speak, you know," said Southend. "I'd rather have waited
till we got the thing into shape."

"And I should like you to see the boy, Robert."

"Bedlam!" said Mr Disney with savage conviction. "I'll talk to you about
what I came to say another day, Cousin Sylvia. Really to-day----!" With
a vague awkward wave of his arm he started for the door.

"You will try?" cried the Imp, darting at him.

She heard him say, half under his breath, "Damned persistent little
woman!" before he vanished through the door. She turned to her
companions, her face aghast, her lips quivering, her eyes dim. The
magician had come and gone and worked no spell; her disappointment was
very bitter.

To her amazement Southend was radiant