e fully expected
to hear from Bridget's lips that she should be prepared to marry him
within a week or a fortnight at the latest.

How enchantingly coy the dear girl had been yesterday! Taking down a
Continental Bradshaw from one of the bookshelves, he looked up the
route to Milan. She had chosen Rome, Naples and Capri for the
honeymoon, and of course she should have her own way! Unable to
control his impatience after half-past ten, Colonel Faversham went to
his dressing-room, limping up-stairs as no one was looking, and
imparted a more militant twirl to his moustache. When he reached the
hall again Knight held his thin overcoat and handed his top-hat, gloves
and malacca cane.

Seeing a taxi-cab Colonel Faversham hailed it, so that he reached
Golfney Place earlier than ever before. As he rang the bell he could
scarcely control his muscles. He coughed so violently that one or two
people looked back at him in passing. He shifted the position of his
hat so often as he waited for Miller to open the door, that he might
have been making a series of automatic bows to imaginary acquaintances.
He stamped his feet and felt that his necktie was in the middle of his
shirt front, and then he rang a second time.

"Good heavens!" he muttered, "why can't the man come! Why can't he let
me in!"

Miller opened the door at last, in the act of thrusting one arm into
his coat. By the time Colonel Faversham had crossed the threshold the
butler had assumed his usual deferential stoop and his manner was as
suave as ever.

"Good-morning, Miller," said Colonel Faversham, pacified the instant he
obtained admittance. "I am rather early. Miss Rosser?"

"Miss Rosser is not here, colonel," was the astounding answer.

"Not here! Good gracious! What do you mean?"

"Miss Rosser left the house at half-past three yesterday afternoon,
colonel."

"Do you mean to tell me she has not returned?" demanded Colonel
Faversham.

"No," said Miller.

"But I have an appointment with her this morning!"

"I understand that Miss Rosser is not coming back, colonel," answered
Miller.

Colonel Faversham was ceasing to look entirely bewildered. He grew
exceedingly red in the face; his eyes appeared to be starting out of
his head. Horrible thoughts occurred to him. He glared at Miller as
if he were responsible for Bridget's departure, and with miserable
sensations he began to put a new interpretation upon the coyness which
he had found so sed