"Put your foot down. Be boss in your own house for once!" exclaimed Mr. Cameron, smiling rather grimly. "I am usually in favour of a woman having her own way--she almost always gets it in any case. But this is a matter about which your wife's judgment cannot be trusted. See what you can do, and I'll talk with you again tomorrow, Bassett. I see Mrs. Cameron is about ready to go. Something must be done about it." Carolyn had been standing by, the loop of Prince's leash in her hand, and staring with all her might at Joe Bassett. At last she ejaculated: "Then your _real_ name is Mr. Laird! I never!" The young man was too much troubled at the moment to give Carolyn any answer. The latter and her father and Prince went down to the sidewalk to wait for Mrs. Cameron to join them; where they were eyed by the neighbours and the children, who considered the Camerons as beings from another world. Carolyn and her parents had their dinner in a restaurant that evening, for it was altogether too late to get it at home. Carolyn May might have enjoyed the occasion more had she not been so sleepy; and Prince sank frankly into slumber under the restaurant table, and snored. So the little girl did not hear all that was said by her father and mother regarding the young couple whose troubles seemed to be forced upon the Camerons' attention; nor did the little girl understand the plans made at the time for the Bassetts. However, Mr. Cameron left for downtown much earlier than usual the next morning. First of all he telephoned to a certain Wall Street office and after a great deal of trouble he obtained the favour of a tentative appointment with the great man known as the Griffin of Wall Street. "An interview with St. Peter at the heavenly portals would be little more difficult to arrange," Mr. Cameron told his wife, "than an appointment with the Griffin." Only that the magnate had found from long experience that it was the part of wisdom to treat the newspaper representatives well, was Mr. Cameron able to get the attention of one of Mr. Henry Bassett's secretaries. This individual the newspaper editor had first to see when he reached the offices of the Griffin. He was a sharp-featured man, very dark and with black eyebrows stenciled distinctly over his nose. "You did not explain your business very clearly to me over the 'phone, Mr. Cameron," said the secretary. "Only because you are from the _Beacon_ did I take the chance of having you come here; but Mr. Bassett does not know yet that you wish to see him." "My business with him is quite a personal matter, Mr.--?" "Inness," finished the secretary. "Mr. Inness. A private matter entirely." "You mean it is something personal concerning yourself, Mr. Cameron?" "Not at all. It is intimately connected with Mr. Bassett's affairs. So intimately, indeed, that I could not possibly explain it to you, Mr. Inness."