despair, Isabel. With Mr. Troy's means
of inquiring, and with my means of paying, the discovery of the thief
cannot be much longer delayed. If you don't return to me soon, I shall
come back and see you again. Your aunt hates the sight of me--but I
don't care two straws for that," remarked Lady Lydiard, showing the
undignified side of her character once more. "Listen to me, Isabel! I
have no wish to lower your aunt in your estimation, but I feel far more
confidence in your good sense than in hers. Mr. Hardyman's business has
taken him to France for the present. It is at least possible that you
may meet with him on his return. If you do, keep him at a distance, my
dear--politely, of course. There! there! you needn't turn red; I am not
blaming you; I am only giving you a little good advice. In your position
you cannot possibly be too careful. Here is Mr. Troy! You must come to
the gate with us, Isabel, or we shall never get Tommie away from you; I
am only his second favorite; you have the first place in his affections.
God bless and prosper you, my child!--I wish to heaven you were going
back to London with me! Well, Mr. Troy, how have you done with Miss
Pink? Have you offended that terrible 'gentlewoman' (hateful word!); or
has it been all the other way, and has she given you a kiss at parting?"

Mr. Troy smiled mysteriously, and changed the subject. His brief parting
interview with the lady of the house was not of a nature to be rashly
related. Miss Pink had not only positively assured him that her visitor
was the most ill-bred woman she had ever met with, but had further
accused Lady Lydiard of shaking her confidence in the aristocracy of her
native country. "For the first time in my life," said Miss Pink, "I feel
that something is to be said for the Republican point of view; and I am
not indisposed to admit that the constitution of the United States _has_
its advantages!"

CHAPTER XII.

THE conference between Lady Lydiard and Mr. Troy, on the way back to
London, led to some practical results.

Hearing from her legal adviser that the inquiry after the missing money
was for a moment at a standstill, Lady Lydiard made one of those bold
suggestions with which she was accustomed to startle her friends in
cases of emergency. She had heard favorable reports of the extraordinary
ingenuity of the French police; and she now proposed sending to Paris
for assistance, after first consulting her nephew, Mr. Felix Sweetsir.