his age. He's a sly old bird;
his thoughts move a thousand times faster than ours, and they're a
thousand times more subtle."

"But he's very fascinating," declared Mary.

"He's a gentleman," answered Henry--"an Italian gentleman. They're
different from us in their ideas of good form, that's all. Good form is
largely a matter of geography--like most other manners and customs."

"I believe in him, anyway."

"So do I, Mary. I don't think he would ever have put himself to such
extraordinary trouble if he hadn't felt pretty hopeful."

But Sir Walter doubted.

"He's old and his mind plays him tricks sometimes. No doubt he's
immensely clever; but his cleverness belongs to the past. He has not
moved with the times any more than I have."

"His eye flashes still, and you know he has claws, but, like a dear old
Persian cat, he would never dream of using them."

"I think he would," answered her cousin. "He might spring on
anybody--from behind."

"He is, at any rate, too old to understand democracy."

"He understands it only too well," replied Sir Walter. "Like myself, he
knows that democracy is only autocracy turned inside out. Human nature
isn't constructed to bear any such ideal. It might suit sheep and
oxen--not men."

"He is an aristocrat, a survival, proud as a peacock under his humility,
as kind-hearted as you are yourself, father."

"I rather doubt his kindness of heart," said Henry. "Latins are not
kind. But I don't doubt his cleverness. One must be on one's guard
against first impressions, Mary."

"No, no one mustn't, when they're so pleasant. There is nothing small
or peddling about him. It was angelic of such an old man to take so much
trouble."

Henry Lennox reminded them of practical considerations.

"The first thing is to get the room opened for him. He is going to see
Uncle Walter at eleven o'clock, and he'll want to visit the Grey Room
afterwards. If we get Chubb and a man or two from the village the first
thing in the morning, they can help Caunter to open the room and have it
ready for him after lunch."

Sir Walter rang and directed that workmen should be sent for at the
earliest hour next day.

"I feel doubtful as to what the authorities would say, however," he told
Henry, when his orders had been taken.

"What can they say, but be well pleased if the infernal thing is cleared
up?"

"It is too good to be true."

"So I should think, but I share Mary's optimism. I honestly believe that