smiled.

"I fancy," he said, "that there will be no difficulty at all about
that."

"You two," Phineas Duge said, "seem to have come across one another in a
very unconventional manner, and yet, after all, it seems as though you
were doing the thing which your people over here look upon at any rate
with tolerance. I have only two girls to leave my millions to. You must
send your solicitor to see me to-morrow."

"Virginia knows," Guy answered, "that I should be only too glad to have
her without a sixpence."

"I myself am fond of money," Phineas Duge answered, smiling, "but I
think that if I were your age I should feel very much the same."

"Uncle," Virginia said, "I have seen Mr. Vine and Stella, and I have
given them your message. They are coming to dine with us at eight
o'clock to-night. Couldn't we--couldn't--?"

Phineas Duge interrupted with a little shrug of the shoulders.

"Make it into a family party, I suppose you were going to say?" he
remarked. "My niece hopes that you too will join us," he added, turning
to the young man.

* * * * *

Guy raced back to Grosvenor Square. He found Lady Medlincourt playing
bridge in the card-room.

"Aunt," he said, after having greeted her guests, "I must see you at
once. Please come into the morning-room. I have something most
important to say."

"If you dare to disturb me until I have finished this hand, I shall
never speak to you again," she declared. "If we lose this rubber, my
diamonds will have to go."

He walked about the room, trying to conceal his impatience. Fortunately
Lady Medlincourt won the rubber, and having collected her winnings, she
followed him into the morning-room.

"Well, Guy, what is it?" she said resentfully. "I suppose you have found
that child?"

"I have not only found her," he answered, "but I have found out all
about her. Do you know whose niece she is, and whom she is
staying with?"

"How should I, my dear boy?" she answered.

"Her uncle is Phineas Duge," Guy said. "He has given his consent to our
marriage, and told me to send my lawyer to him to-morrow."

"Bless the boy, what luck!" Lady Medlincourt exclaimed. "Why, he's the
richest man in America."

Guy nodded.

"I don't care a bit," he said, "except that it will make all you people
so much more decent to Virginia. Come along round to Claridge's and be
introduced. There's just time."

The dinner-party that night was a great success. In the mid