is nonsense, Francis; I could not do it. I have knocked about
the world as you know, and, since you are aware of everything about me,
you say, you have probably heard some of my likings--and dislikings. I
never go after a woman unless she attracts me, and I would never marry
one of them unless I were madly in love with her, whether she had money
or no; though I believe I would hate a wife with money, in any
case--she'd be saying like the American lady of poor Darrowood: 'It's my
motor and you can't have it to-day.'"

"You would marry a woman then--if you were in love, in spite of
everything?" Francis Markrute asked.

"Probably, but I have never been really in love; have you? It is all
story-book stuff--that almighty passion, I expect. They none of them
matter very much after a while, do they, old boy?"

"I have understood it is possible for a woman to matter," the financier
said and he drew in his lips.

"Well, up to now I have not," Lord Tancred announced, "and may the day
be far off when one does. I feel pretty safe!"

A strange, mysterious smile crept over Mr. Markrute's face.

"By the way, also, how do you know the lady would be willing to marry
me, Francis? You spoke as if I only had to be consulted in the affair."

"So you have. I can answer for my niece; she will do as I wish, and, as
I said before, you are rather a perfect picture of an English nobleman,
Tancred. You have not found women recalcitrant, as a rule--no?"

Lord Tancred was not inordinately vain, though a man, and he had a sense
of humor--so he laughed.

"'Pon my word it is amusing, your turning into a sort of matrimonial
agent. Can't you see the fun of the thing yourself?"

"It seems quite natural to me. You have every social advantage to offer
a woman, and a presentable person; and my niece has youth, and some
looks, and a large fortune. But we will say no more about it. I shall be
glad to be of any service I can to you, anyway, in regard to your
Canadian scheme. Come and dine to-night; I happen to have asked a couple
of railway magnates with interests out there, and you can get some
information from them."

And so it was arranged, and Lord Tancred got up to go; but just at the
door he paused and said with a laugh:

"And shall I see the niece?"

The financier had his back turned, and so he permitted the flicker of a
smile to come over his mouth as he answered:

"It might be; but we have dismissed the subject of the niece."

And so