ven had they wished to,
but on the instant struck up that pathetic ditty--

"Down by whar de beans grow blue."

And no sooner had he finished it than (barely waiting for his meed of
applause) he further regaled them with--

"Twould make a fellow
Turn green and yellow!

Finally, as a tit-bit, he contributed--

"When hubby s gone to Brighton,
And I ve sent the cook to bed,
Oh who's that a-knocking on the window!"

At the conclusion of this concert he knew not whether to feel more
relieved or chagrined to observe that his fair hostess had her eyes
fixed upon the clock. Thanking him with a slightly embarrassed air, she
threw a pointed glance at Miss Minchell, and the two ladies rose.

"I am afraid you will think we keep very early hours," she began.

"It is one of the best rules in my uncle's philosophy," he interposed.

Yet though glad enough to have come so triumphantly to the end of his
ordeal, he could not bring himself to let his charming disciple leave
him in a wounded or even disappointed mood. As soon as Miss Minchell had
passed through the door he quietly laid his hand upon Julia's arm, and
with a gesture beckoned her back into the room.

"Pardon my seeming levity, Miss Wallingford," he said in a grave and
gentle voice, "but you know not what emotions I had to contend with!
I thank you for your charming sympathy, and I beg you to accept in
my uncle's name that salute by which his followers distinguish the
faithful."

And he thereupon kissed the blushing girl with a heartiness that
restored her confidence in him completely.

"Well," he said to himself as he retired with his candle, "I've managed
to get a fair penn'orth out of it after all."

CHAPTER XXXI

In spite of the Spartan transformation which Sir Justin's bedroom had
undergone, our adventurer enjoyed an excellent night's rest. So fast
asleep was he at the hour of eight next morning that it took him a few
seconds to awake to the full possession of his faculties, even when
disturbed by a loud exclamation at his bedside. He then became aware of
the presence of an entire stranger in his room--a tall and elderly man,
with a long nose and a grizzled beard. This intruder had apparently just
drawn up the blind, and was now looking about him with an expression of
the greatest concern.

"Mackenzie!" he cried, in the voice of one accustomed to be heard with
submission, "What