een the arched curtains hung a spray
of mistletoe--the conceit of a mischievous housemaid. Their eyes met it
simultaneously.

Bradley had Lady Canterbridge's slim, white hand in his own. The next
moment voices were heard in the passage, and the door nearly opposite to
them opened deliberately. The idea of their apparent seclusion and half
compromising attitude flashed through the minds of both at the same
time. Lady Canterbridge stepped quickly backward, drawing Bradley with
her, into the embrasure of the window; the folds of the curtain swung
together and concealed them from view.

The door had been opened by the footman, ushering in a broad-shouldered
man, who was carrying a travelling-bag and an umbrella in his hand.
Dropping into an arm-chair before the curtain, he waved away the
footman, who, even now, mechanically repeated a previously vain attempt
to relieve the stranger of his luggage.

"You leave that 'ere grip sack where it is, young man, and tell Sir
Robert Mainwaring that Mr. Demander Sharpe, of Californy, wishes to
see him--on business--on BUSINESS, do ye' hear? You hang onter that
sentence--on BUSINESS! it's about ez much ez you kin carry, I reckon,
and leave that grip sack alone."

From behind the curtain Bradley made a sudden movement to go forward;
but Lady Canterbridge--now quite pale but collected--restrained him with
a warning movement of her hand. Sir Robert's stick and halting step were
next heard along the passage, and he entered the room. His simple and
courteous greeting of the stranger was instantly followed by a renewed
attack upon the "grip sack," and a renewed defence of it by the
stranger.

"No, Sir Robert," said the voice argumentatively, "this yer's a BUSINESS
interview, and until it's over--if YOU please--we'll remain ez we air.
I'm Demander Sharpe, of Californy, and I and my darter, Minty, oncet had
the pleasure of knowing your boy over thar, and of meeting him agin the
other day at Nice."

"I think," said Sir Robert's voice gently, "that these are not the only
claims you have upon me. I have only a day or two ago heard from
Mr. Bradley that I owe to your generous hands and your disinterested
liberality the saving of my California fortune."

There was the momentary sound of a pushed-back chair, a stamping of
feet, and then Mr. Sharpe's voice rose high with the blacksmith's old
querulous aggrieved utterance.

"So it's that finikin', conceited Bradley agin--that's giv' me away!