wo men stood watching him.

"Is he to be bought?" Lord Armley asked, in a low tone.

Mr. Foley shook his head.

"Not with money or place," he answered thoughtfully.

"There isn't a man breathing who hasn't his price, if you could only
discover what it is," Lord Armley declared, as he took a cigarette from
his case and lit it.

"A truism, my friend," Mr. Foley admitted, "which I have always
considered a little nebulous. However, we shall see. We have a few
hours' respite, at any rate."

CHAPTER XI

Lady Grenside's hospitable instincts were unquenchable. The small
house-party to which her brother had reluctantly consented had grown by
odd couples until the house was more than half full. Twenty-two people
sat down to dinner that night. For the first time in his life, Mr.
Foley interfered with the arrangement of the table. He sought his
sister out just as the dressing-bell rang.

"My dear Catharine," he asked, a little reprovingly, "was it necessary
to have such a crowd here--at any rate until after Monday? You know
that I don't interfere as a rule, but there were special reasons why I
wanted to be as quiet as possible until after Maraton had left."

Lady Grenside's expression was delightfully apologetic. It conveyed,
also, a sense of helplessness.

"What was I to do?" she demanded. "Most of these people were asked, or
half asked, weeks ago, and I hate putting any one off. It is quite a
weakness of mine, that. And I am sure, Stephen, there isn't a soul who
could possibly object to Mr. Maraton. Personally, I think he is
altogether charming, and so distinguished-looking. He has quite the air
of being used to good society."

Mr. Foley's eyes lit with joyful appreciation of his sister's naivete.
Perhaps one reason why they got on so well together was because she was
continually ministering to his sense of humour.

"It wasn't altogether that," he said, "but never mind. We can't send
the people away now--that's certain. What I wanted to tell you was that
Elisabeth must sit next Maraton to-night."

Lady Grenside was horrified.

"However could I explain such an arrangement to Jack Carton!" she
protested. "Apart from a matter of precedence, you know that he is
Elisabeth's declared admirer. It is perfectly certain that at a word of
encouragement from her, he would propose. A most suitable match, too,
in every way, and, you know, Elisabeth is beginning to be just a little
anxiety to me. She is twenty-four, and gi