, closed the door into the dining-room,--the
only door that had been open,--glanced up into the bedroom gallery to
make certain it was empty, then hurried back to the telephone.

"Yes," said he. "Go ahead."

There was a brief pause while he listened. Then he replied, in a tone of
laboured indifference:

"Oh, no. You're quite mistaken. I am not 'eager to sell.' Not at all. As
a matter of fact," he continued unctuously, "I much prefer to carry out
my dear uncle's wishes and keep the business in the family. You must
surely remember how determined he was that it should be kept
on.--What?--'If I could get my price,' eh? That's different, of course.
It puts a new aspect on the whole affair.--What? Oh, well, an offer such
as that deserves careful thought. I could not decline it offhand.--No, I
admit it is very tempting.--'Talk it over?' Certainly."

He paused, then went on in answer to a query from the other end of the
wire:

"To-morrow? No, I'm afraid not. You see, I'm going to be married
to-morrow. A man does not want to be bothered with business deals on his
wedding day.--No, the next day won't do, either, I'm afraid. You see, we
are sailing directly for Europe. Thank you. Yes, I deserve all the
congratulations you can offer me.--What?--Very well. This evening, then.
That will suit me perfectly. You're in New York, I suppose? What time
will it be convenient to you to get to Grimm Manor?--What?--Yes, that's
all right. No. Not here at the house. I'll meet you at the hotel. The
tavern.--Yes, I'll be there promptly.--What?"

He listened a moment, then laughed in evident, if subdued, amusement.

"So the dear old gentleman used to tell you his plans never failed, did
he?" he questioned. "Yes, I've heard the same boast from him hundreds of
times. That's one reason why I want the deal kept quiet till it's
settled. So I asked you to meet me at the tavern instead of here at the
house. I don't want it thought by other people that I'd run counter to
his plans in any way. God rest his soul! Hey? 'What would he say if he
knew?' I hate to think. He could express himself very forcibly when his
dear, stubborn old will was crossed. You may remember that. Oh, well,
it's _life_. Everything must change."

There was a roll of thunder. At the same instant the windows flared
pink-white with lightning. A flash of electricity ran purring and
crackling along the telephone itself.

Frederik, with a sharp cry of surprise, dropped the instrume