“And I am quite forgiven?” “I am thanking you very much,” he said, smiling directly into her blue eyes. She lowered them, and vanished into the darkness of the passage. The news of Minty's success was further corroborated by Sir Robert, who later that evening called Bradley into the study. “Frank has been writing from Nice that he has renewed his acquaintance with some old Californian friends of yours--a Mr. and Miss Sharpe. Lady Canterbridge says that they are well known in London to some of our friends, but I would like to ask you something about them. Lady Mainwaring was on the point of inviting them here when I received a letter from Mr. Sharpe asking for a BUSINESS interview. Pray who is this Sharpe?” “You say he writes for a BUSINESS interview?” asked Bradley. “Yes.” Bradley hesitated for a moment and then said quietly, “Perhaps, then, I am justified in a breach of confidence to him, in order to answer your question. He is the man who has assumed all the liabilities of the Sierran Land and Timber Company to enable the Bank to resume payment. But he did it on the condition that you were never to know it. For the rest, he was a blacksmith who made a fortune, as Lady Canterbridge will tell you.” “How very odd--how kind, I mean. I should like to have been civil to him on Frank's account alone.” “I should see him on business and be civil to him afterwards.” Sir Robert received the American's levity with his usual seriousness. “No, they must come here for Christmas. His daughter is--?” “Araminta Eulalie Sharpe,” said Bradley, in defiant memory of Lady Canterbridge. Sir Robert winced audibly. “I shall rely on you, my dear boy, to help me make it pleasant for them,” he said.