He was at least seventy years of age, but was dressed in the most youthful fashion, and wore a light blond wig. Much below the medium height, shrunken, shriveled and weazened, he presented a decidedly ludicrous appearance as he stood, a huge bouquet in hand, bowing and smiling at the young actress. Miss March could not help smiling herself; this evidently encouraged the old gentleman. "You pardon the liberty I have taken, then?" he said. "I was sure you would." "What is your business with me, sir?" the girl asked, composing her features. "It is to offer a tribute to your art and beauty," replied Mr. Merry, with a smirk. "But"--for the first time seeing the deputy and Al--"who are these persons?" "Don't you know me, Mr. Merry?" asked the official. "Why, bless my soul!" ejaculated the old man, adjusting his glasses, "it's Bullfinch!" "Yes, sir; it's me." "What are you doing here in Miss March's apartment?" "Attending to business, sir." "What business?" And the old man glared suspiciously at the cringing deputy. "Your business, Mr. Merry." "I didn't send you here." "You sent me to find the writer of that infamous advertisement in the _Bugle_, didn't you, sir?" "Yes." "Well, I have found him." "Where is he? Who is he?" "There he stands." And Mr. Bullfinch pointed triumphantly at Al. "That boy?" gasped the old man. "Yes, sir." "You must be mistaken." "I am not. I went to the office of the _Bugle_ and asked who wrote the advertisement. They told me it was the advance agent of the company, a young man named Allston. I tracked him to this place, and was about to drag him forth when you arrived." "You talk like a fool, Bullfinch," snapped Mr. Merry. "Sir, I----" "That will do. If this is the person who is responsible for that advertisement take him away." "Yes, sir." And the deputy laid his hand on Al's shoulder. But Miss March interposed. "Wait a moment, Mr. Merry." "Certainly, my dear young lady. What is it?" "This gentleman, Mr. Allen Allston, never saw or heard of you before he came to Rockton. It was not in a spirit of malice that he wrote that advertisement. Don't you see, Mr. Merry, that by having him arrested you will only subject yourself to ridicule? You acknowledge yourself to be a 'queer old man.' Why should you do that?" The old gentleman coughed. "Ahem! That aspect of the case had not occurred to me," he said. "You assure me, Miss March, that the young man did not intend to hold me up to ridicule?" "I am absolutely certain," interrupted the deputy, "that he did." "Shut up, Bullfinch!" "Mr. Merry," interrupted Al, "I give you my word of honor that I should not have inserted that advertisement if I had for one moment supposed it would injure the feelings of anyone. It was only a joke on the public." "A joke at my expense, young man!" "I have given you my word of honor, sir, that I did not intend to hurt you or anyone else by that ad."