"My dear fellow, I'm delighted, I assure you--" Really, Lord Harrowby's face should have paid closer attention to his words. Just now it failed ignominiously in the matter of backing them up. "Thank you," Mr. Minot replied. "Your lordship is no doubt surprised at seeing me so soon--" "Well--er--not at all. Shall I order luncheon?" "No, thanks. I had a bite on the way up." And Mr. Minot dropped into the chair which an eager waiter held ready. "Lord Harrowby, I trust you are not going to be annoyed by what I have to tell you." His lordship's face clouded, and worry entered the mild blue eyes. "I hope there's nothing wrong about the policy." "Nothing whatever. Lord Harrowby, Mr. Jephson trusts you--implicitly." "So I perceived this morning. I was deeply touched." "It was--er--touching." Minot smiled a bit cynically. "Understanding as you do how Mr. Jephson feels toward you, you will realize that it is in no sense a reflection on you that our office, viewing this matter in a purely business light, has decided that some one must go to San Marco with you. Some one who will protect Mr. Jephson's interests." "Your office," said his lordship, reflecting. "You mean Mr. Thacker, don't you?" Could it be that the fellow was not so slow as he seemed? "Mr. Thacker is the head of our office," smiled Mr. Minot. "It has been thought best that some one go with you, Lord Harrowby. Some one who will work night and day to see to it that Miss Meyrick does not change her mind. I--I am the some one. I hope you are not annoyed." "My dear chap! Not in the least. When I said this morning that I was quite set on this marriage, I was frightfully sincere." And now his lordship's face, frank and boyish, in nowise belied his words. "I shall be deeply grateful for any aid Lloyds can give me. And I am already grateful that Lloyds has selected you to be my ally." Really, very decent of him. Dick Minot bowed. "You go south to-night?" he ventured. "Yes. On the yacht _Lileth_, belonging to my friend, Mr. Martin Wall. You have heard of him?" "No. I can't say that I have." "Indeed! I understood he was very well-known here. A big, bluff, hearty chap. We met on the steamer coming over and became very good friends." A pause. "You will enjoy meeting Mr. Wall," said his lordship meaningly, "when I introduce you to him--in San Marco." "Lord Harrowby," said Minot slowly, "my instructions are to go south with you--on the yacht." For a moment the two men stared into each other's eyes. Then Lord Harrowby pursed his thin lips and gazed out at Fifth Avenue, gay and colorful in the February sun. "How extremely unfortunate," he drawled. "It is not my boat, Mr. Minot. If it were, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to extend an invitation to you." "I understand," said Minot. "But I am to go--invited or uninvited." "In my interests?" asked Harrowby sarcastically. "As the personal conductor of the bride-groom." "Mr. Minot--really--"