ot to do with newspapers, and they are
pretty ignorant, I can tell you--cheap all round. What's a newspaper,
anyway, but an editor, more or less smart and overworked, with an owner
behind him who has got some game on hand? I know: I've been there."

"How have you 'been there'?"

"I've owned four big papers all at once, and had fifty others under my
thumb."

Lady Lawless caught her breath; but she believed him. "You must be very
rich."

"Owning newspapers doesn't mean riches. It's a lever, though, for
tipping the dollars your way."

"I suppose they have--tipped your way?"

"Yes: pretty well. But, don't follow this lead any farther, Lady
Lawless, or you may come across something that will give you a start. I
should like to keep on speaking terms with you."

"You mean that a man cannot hold fifty newspapers under his thumb, and
live in the glare of a search-light also?"

"Exactly. You can't make millions without pulling wires."

She saw him watching the girl on her husband's arm. She had the
instinct of her sex. She glanced at the stately girl again; then at
Mr. Vandewaters critically, and rejoined, quizzically: "Did you--make
millions?"

His eyes still watching, he replied abstractedly. "Yes: a few handfuls,
and lost a few--'that's why I'm here.'"

"To get them back on the London market?"

"That's why I am here."

"You have not come in vain?"

"I could tell you better in a month or so from now. In any case, I don't
stand to lose. I've come to take things away from England."

"I hope you will take away a good opinion of it."

"If there'd been any doubt of it half an hour ago, it would be all gone
this minute."

"Which is nice of you; and not in your usual vein, I should think. But,
Mr. Vandewaters, we want you to come to Craigruie, our country place, to
spend a week. Then you will have a chance to judge us better, or rather
more broadly and effectively." She was looking at the girl, and at that
moment she caught Sir Duke's eye. She telegraphed to him to come.

"Thank you, Lady Lawless, I'm glad you have asked me. But--" He glanced
to where Mr. Pride was being introduced to the young lady on Sir Duke's
arm, and paused.

"We are hoping," she added, interpreting his thought, and speaking a
little dryly, "that your friend, Mr. Stephen Pride"--the name sounded so
ludicrous--"will join us."

"He'll be proud enough, you may be sure. It's a singular combination,
Pride and myself, isn't it? But, you see,