And he went yachting again without publicity but with a lady. He was no true Briton, and never read the _Dictator_. His departure took one thing off Pen’s hands, but none of her lovers departed. Titania’s words had sunk deep in their minds. "She’s not married," they said. "And if she says she is, it is only to try us." They all interviewed Bob, and made things very pleasant for that rising statesman. If he believed Pen was married there was no reason to say so openly. "Am I old enough to be a director, do you think?" he asked Gordon. "What I want is to make pots of money and rebuild Goring, which is a bally ruin." "You don’t answer my questions," said Gordon. "Oh, about Pen," said Bob. "She’s queer. I don’t know, Mr. Gordon, I can’t tell. She may be, for all I know. She’s so clever, I don’t know that she hasn’t married you, and put you up to coming and asking me questions." Gordon couldn’t help grinning. "I think you’ll be a director of something some day," said he. "I can’t make you one now, but if you have a hundred pounds I’ll invest it in something for you, my son, that will make your hair curl." "Like yours?" asked Bob, curiously, and Gordon flinched. "Well," went on Bob, without waiting for an answer, "I haven’t a hundred pounds, but I’ve an idea how to get it." "Yes?" said the financier. "What’s your idea, Bob?" "It’s a safe and a certain investment, is it?" "Why, of course," replied Gordon. "Then I’ll tell you what, you lend it me," said Bob, brightly, "and invest it for me." "Damned if I don’t," cried Gordon. "Bob, when you are twenty-one I’ll make you a director and ask your advice! And you’ll come and tell me if you find out anything about Lady Penelope?" Bob looked at him and shook his head. "I say, you’re so clever, I don’t know how to take you. I dare say it’s you!" The flattered financier smiled. "Oh, by the way," said Bob, rather in a hurry, "I suppose I should get nearly as much if I invested ninety pounds as if I put in a hundred?" "Nearly," said Gordon, who hoped to be let off a little, "only ten per cent. less." "That’ll do me," said Bob. "Then you can give me the tenner now, Mr. Gordon, and put in the rest for me." "I wish I had a boy like that," said Gordon. He went away ten pounds poorer, but with a great admiration for Bob, who was determined to restore the faded splendour of Goring. "Hanged if I know who it is," said Bob. "It may be Gordon after all. And every one but De Vere and Bramber have been at me. Is it one of these?" He had a remarkable list of all those who had pretended to Penelope’s hand, for he was very curious, like all the rest of the world. He was also a little sore with Pen for not confiding in him. "I told her I’d find out," he said, "and I will." This was his list, and a curious document it was, written in a big, round hand that "old Guth" could never get him to modify. His spelling was almost ducal in its splendour.