He did "hook on"--to wit, he took Lord Henry's arm; and that gentleman did not shrink, but walked with the millionaire down one of the broad walks between the trim lawns, both for the time being silent. "I'm a man of the world," said Mr Elbraham at last. "Indeed," said Lord Henry. "Yes, my lord, and I'm going to speak out like a man of that sort." Lord Henry bowed and smiled, for he had Marie's great dark eyes before him, and the memory was very pleasant at the time. "Just an hour ago, my lord, when I met you at that door, I felt as if we two were to be enemies." "Indeed," said Lord Henry again. "Yes, my lord; but now I don't think we are." "Surely not." "To be plain then, my lord, I am going to propose in due form for the hand of Miss Clotilde." Lord Henry stopped short, with his eyes half-closed, and one foot beating the gravel as if he were thinking out an answer to the remark made by the man who held his arm. "Well, my lord, what have you got to say?" "Not much," said Lord Henry, rousing himself; "but I will be frank and plain to you, Mr Elbraham, though no one is more surprised at this change in my prospects than I. You are going to propose for the hand of Miss Clotilde, one of the most beautiful women I ever saw." "Eh!" exclaimed Elbraham, whose jaw dropped, "don't say that." "But I do say it," said Lord Henry, smiling, and looking very dreamy and thoughtful: "the most beautiful woman I ever saw--except her sister--for whose hand I shall become a candidate myself." "Hah!" ejaculated Mr Elbraham, with a sigh of relief; "then look here, my lord, under these circumstances we shall be brothers-in-law." "Probably so." "Then we'll have no more ceremony. Look here, my lord, I'm a plain man, and I don't boast of my blood nor my position, but I'm warm; and a fellow can't find a better friend than I can be when I take to a man. I like you. You've got blood, and a title, and all that sort of thing; but that isn't all: you're a gentleman, without any haw-haw, sit-upon-a-fellow airs. Moorpark, there's my hand, and from henceforth I'll back you up in anything." "Thank you, Mr Elbraham," said Lord Henry, smiling, for in his then frame of mind the coarse manners of his companion were kept from jarring by the roses that metaphorically hedged him in. "There, then, is my hand, and I'm sure we shall be the best of friends." "And brothers," exclaimed Elbraham, giving Lord Henry exquisite pain, which he bore like a martyr, by crushing his fingers against a heavy signet ring. "God bless you, Moorpark! God bless you!" There was more than a trace of emotion in Lord Henry's eyes just then, as he warmly returned the other's grasp; and then they walked on together. "I shan't shilly-shally, Moorpark," exclaimed Elbraham hoarsely. "I shall send her down a few diamonds and things at once. What's the use of waiting?" "Ay, what, indeed!" said Lord Henry, smiling. "Besides, my friend, we are too old."