The visitor turned and saluted his host. "Will you not be seated?" said Mr. Rockharrt, waving his hand toward sofa and chairs. The visitor bowed and sat down. The host took another chair and waited. There was silence for a short time. The old man seemed expectant, the young man embarrassed. At length, when the latter opened his mouth and spoke, no pearls and diamonds of wisdom and goodness dropped from his lips; he said: "It is a fine day." "Yes, yes," admitted the Iron King, taking his hands from his knees, and drawing himself up with the sigh of a man badly bored--"for London. We wouldn't call this a fine day in America. But I have heard it said that it is always a fine day in England when it don't pour." "Yes," admitted the visitor; and then he driveled into the most inane talk about climates, for you see this was the first time the poor young fellow had ever ventured to "Beard the lion in his den," so to speak, by asking: a stern old gentleman for a daughter's hand, and this Iron King was a very formidable-looking beast indeed. At length, Mr. Rockharrt, feeling sure that his visitor had come upon business--though he did not know of what sort--said: "I think, sir, that you are here upon some affairs. If it is about railway shares--" The old man was stopped short by the surprised and insolent stare of the young duke. "I know nothing of railway shares, sir," he answered. "Oh, you don't! Well, I did not think you did. In what other way can I oblige you?" Indignation generally deprives a man of self-possession, but on this occasion it restored that of the embarrassed lover. Feeling that he--the descendant of a dozen dukes, whose ancestors had "come over with William the Conqueror," had served in Palestine under King Richard, had compelled King John to sign the Magna Charta, had gained glory in every generation--was about to do this rude, purse-proud old tradesman the greatest honor in asking of him his granddaughter in marriage, he said, somewhat coldly: "Miss Haught has made me happy in the hope of her acceptance of my hand, pending your approval, and has referred me to you." The Iron King stared at the speaker for a moment, and then said, quite calmly: "Please to repeat that all over again, slowly and distinctly." The duke flushed to the edges of his hair, but he repeated his proposal in plain words. "You have asked Cora Haught to marry you?" demanded the Iron King. "Yes, sir." "What did she say?" "She did me the honor to give me some hope, and she referred me to you, as I have already explained." "I don't believe it!" blurted the old man. "Sir!" said the duke, in a low voice. "I don't believe it! What! My granddaughter--mine--break her faith and wish to marry some one else?" "Mr. Rockharrt," began the duke, in a smooth tone--though his blood was hot with anger--"I am sorry you should so forget the--"