the case. But it won't be done by any means on the same
scale that--" he paused abruptly, and the two men tacitly completed his
sentence in the glance they exchanged.

The Marquis of Chaldon rose, and took up his hat and stick. "If you
will post it to me--in a registered letter--my town house--please," he
remarked, with a charmingly delicate hesitation over the phrases. Then
he put out his hand: "I need not say how fully I appreciate your great
kindness to my old friend Fromentin. It was a noble action--one I shall
always reflect upon with admiration."

"I hope you won't mention it, though," said Thorpe, as they shook hands;
"either that or--or anything else."

"I shall preserve the most guarded--the most diplomatic secrecy," his
Lordship assured him, as they walked toward the door.

Thorpe opened this door, and stepped aside, with a half bow, to
facilitate the exit of the Marquis, who bent gracious acknowledgment
of the courtesy. Then, with an abrupt start of surprise, the two men
straightened themselves. Directly in front of them, leaning lightly
against the brass-rail which guarded the entrance to the Board Room,
stood Lord Plowden.

A certain sense of confusion, unwelcome but inevitable, visibly
enveloped this chance meeting. The Marquis blinked very hard as he
exchanged a fleeting hand-shake with the younger nobleman, and murmured
some indistinguishable commonplaces. Then, with a graceful celerity,
which was more than diplomatic, he disappeared. Thorpe, with more
difficulty, recovered a sort of stolidity of expression that might pass
for composure. He in turn gave his hand to the newcomer, and nodded to
him, and achieved a doubtful smile.

"Come in!" he said, haltingly. "Where did you drop from? Glad to see
you! How are all your people?"

A moment later the young Viscount was seated in the chair which the
elderly Marquis had vacated. He presented therein a figure which, in
its way, was perhaps as courtly as the other had been--but the way was
widely different. Lord Plowden's fine, lithe form expressed no deference
in its easy postures. His handsome face was at no pains to assume
conciliatory or ingratiating aspects. His brilliant brown eyes sparkled
a confident, buoyant gaze full into the heavy, lethargic countenance of
the big man at the desk.

"I haven't bothered you before," he said, tossing his gloves into his
hat, and spreading his frock-coat out by its silk lapels. He crossed his
legs, and sat back