"Well I wish you would get me a look at it, or find out the exact date of her birthday for me--it's important." "I will let you know either this evening or to-morrow, better say to-morrow." "That will do. Then the bargain is concluded between us. All I want you to do now is to help me gain the girl over, she looks tractable enough--and help me to get her away quietly. I'll give you the hundred before I get her off; then as soon as I marry her you shall get the other century. I can't help keeping my word to you, for you see it suits my own interest. It's little enough I want you to do. If all goes well it will run hard if I don't succeed and get the fortune, and I'll remember you afterwards. Do you agree--is it a settled thing between us?" "Yes," said she, apparently reflecting a moment. "I suppose that will do, for if you don't pay me I shall then be able to disclose the whole transaction." "Precisely," he answered, complacently, "You can have me indicted for conspiracy and what not! but there'll be no fear of that. We will not quarrel, Clara; what suits my book will suit yours." Besides consulting Roger Hartshorne's will he had obtained legal advice on his contemplated marriage before coming down to The Poplars. "Very well, if you are sensible you will play fair in the undertaking, and I shall be satisfied. If you keep your word I shall assist you; at all events _I_ am not going to marry the girl, so I shan't have anything to complain of if I get my money." "I will pay you, never fear! and you must keep to your bargain, and allow me to work my own way with the girl, and assist me in the end to get her off. Don't forget to let me know to-morrow her right age, and write down the date of her birth--it might be useful to me. But about the girl herself, she is not really mad, is she?" "I thought you yourself told me just now she was not." "Bother! don't be so aggravating, Clara; you ought to know the girl, and be able to tell me about her." "You need not alarm yourself, Mr Allynne Markworth," replied Miss Kingscott, with a sneer; "on the contrary, allow me to congratulate you. You have tumbled into luck's way, and appear to have fallen upon your legs as usual. The girl is only, as you said, half-silly, and without being exactly an idiot can be made to do anything you and I please--that is, by judicious management." She was going to say something further, but at this moment Tom re-entered the room, and, of course, the conversation was dropped. "I was just asking Miss Kingscott if she liked croquet, and, Tom, do you know--can you believe it, she has never heard of that flirtative and fascinating game?" said Markworth, in his usual free and elegant manner. "Really!" said Tom. "Then we must enlighten her. Markworth is the prince of croquetters, you know, Miss Kingscott"--turning to her, and that lady seemed pleased for the information, and transfixed poor Tom with her beautifully expressive eyes.