"Well, I mean, if the court knows herself and I think she does. Good-by. I will go home, see how the thing works, and talk to Lena. To-morrow you shall hear what she says." This speech of Alfred Van Hoosen's cheered Jack up considerably. Since he had made friends with Alfred and been an inmate of his mother's house, his love for Lena had doubled in intensity. He felt that he could not live without her. The presence of Lord Maltravers in New York was a standing menace against the accomplishment of his marriage with Lena. He had a bitter, unscrupulous and unrelenting enemy to deal with. It had already been shown that he would stop at nothing. With a heart full of conflicting emotions, Jack went to his hotel. CHAPTER XI. FORTUNE-TELLING. When Alfred Van Hoosen quitted Harkaway he dropped in at the Union Club and played a couple of games of billiards. He played very badly, for his thoughts were intent on anything but the game. "Beaten you again," said his friend; "what is the matter with you this afternoon?" "My right hand has lost its cunning." "Play another?" "Not to-day, you will have to excuse me," said Alfred. Two gentlemen entered the room and approached Van Hoosen, one saying: "Ah! Van, glad to see you. I want to make you acquainted with my friend, Lord Maltravers. Just arrived from England. He has brought a letter of introduction to me and tells me that he met your people in Paris." Alfred shook hands with his friend, who was named Sinclair, and was well known as a banker in Wall street, while he bowed somewhat stiffly to the peer. The latter placed a glass in his eye, and stared somewhat rudely at Van Hoosen. "Pleased to know you, you know," he exclaimed. "But I thought you were out of form; your mother sent up for you, but you were indisposed; preferred playing billiards to seeing me, eh?" "I can choose my own occupation, I guess," replied Alfred, who did not like his lordship's manner. The tone in which he was addressed was offensive. "Oh! certainly; I can forgive anything to the brother of such a charming sister." "I don't want you to forgive me anything. Lord Maltravers," said Alfred haughtily, "and I beg, once for all, that you will not dare to take the liberty of mentioning Miss Van Hoosen's name in a billiard-room." "But it's a club, you know." "That makes no difference; don't do it." "Eh?" said his lordship, calling the eye-glass into requisition again. "Don't _dare_ to do it." "Did you say dare?" "Certainly I did. Is it necessary to repeat it?" replied Alfred, turning away. Maltravers stared after him, and taking up a cue began to knock the balls about, remarking as he did so: "Queer people, these Americans." Sinclair ran after Alfred, and caught him at the door. "What's got into you?" he asked. "Oh! nothing," was the evasive answer. "I didn't think you would insult a friend of mine."