In his fervor he caught her hand and pressed it against his heart. "Drina dear, you ring true, true as a bell. You, I know, will understand whatever I do." He was rushing on when suddenly a thought stopped him. If he did what he had planned, what right would he have to hope of marrying her even after years of toil? He dropped her hands, his face going so blank that, forgetting the mingled joy and terror his words had brought her, she cried: "Bojo--what's wrong--what are you thinking of?" He turned away, shaking his head, drawing a deep breath. But at this moment, before Patsie could escape, Doris came down the stairs and directly to him. "Bojo--I've been so worried--why didn't you answer my letters? And _why_ didn't you meet me?" She threw her arms about his neck, gazing anxiously into his eyes. He had a blurred vision of Patsie, shrinking and white, turning from the sight of the embrace, as he stammered explanations. Luckily Drake himself broke the tension with an unexpected appearance and a bluff-- "Hello, Tom. Where have you been keeping yourself? Now that you're a millionaire I expected you to come sailing in on a steam yacht! Well, Doris, what do you think of your financier?" "Mr. Drake, I've got something important I must talk over with you. Can you see me for a few minutes now? It's very important. If you could--" The tone in which he said these words, staring past them into the vista of the salons, impressed each with the feeling of a crisis. Drake halted, shot a quick glance from the young fellow to Doris, and said, as he went out: "Why, yes--of course. Come in now. Soon as you're ready. The library--glad to see you." At the same moment, with a last appealing glance, Patsie disappeared behind the curtains. Doris came to him, startled and alarmed. "You're not in trouble?" she said, wonder in her look. "Dad told me you'd made a quarter of a million and that everything was all right. That is true, isn't it?" "Doris, everything is not all right," he said solemnly. "Whether I am to keep my share or not depends on what answer your father gives to one question I am going to ask him." "What do you mean? You mean you would not accept--" "Under certain circumstances I _can't_ accept this money--exactly that." "But, Bojo, don't do anything rash--hastily," she said hurriedly. "Talk it over with me first. Let me know." "No," he said firmly. "This is my decision." "At least let me come with you--let me hear!" He shook his head. "No, Doris--not even that. This is between your father and me." "But our marriage," she said in desperation, following him to the door. "Afterward--when I have seen your father, then we must talk of that."