'Marble Arch, and go up Regent Street, and don't hurry,' said Mr. Belmont to the cabman. 'How did he know my name?' she asked herself. 'A hansom's the most private place in London,' he said after a pause. It certainly did seem to her very cosy and private, and her nearness to one of the principal theatrical managers in America was almost startling. Her white frock, with the black velvet decorations, touched his gray suit. 'Now,' he said, 'I do wish you'd tell me why you were in my parlour last night. Honest.' 'What for?' she parried, to gain time. Should she begin to disclose her identity? 'Because--well, because--oh, look here, my girl, I want to be on very peculiar terms with you. I want to straighten out everything. You'll be sort of struck, but I'll be bound to tell you I'm your father. Now, don't faint or anything.' 'Oh, I knew that!' she gasped. 'I saw the moles on your wrist when your were registering--mother told me about them. Oh, if I had only known you knew!' They looked at one another. 'It was only the day before yesterday I found out I possessed such a thing as a daughter. I had a kind of fancy to go around to the old spot. This notion of me having a daughter struck me considerable, and I concluded to trace her and size her up at once.' Nina was bound to smile. 'So your poor mother's been dead three years?' 'Yes,' said Nina. 'Ah! don't let us talk about that. I feel I can't say just the right thing.... And so you knew me by those pips.' He pulled up his right sleeve. 'Was that why you came up to my parlour?' Nina nodded, and Lionel Belmont sighed with relief. 'Why didn't you tell me at once, my dear, who you where?' 'I didn't dare,' she smiled; 'I was afraid. I thought you wouldn't----' 'Listen,' he said; 'I've wanted someone like you for years, years, and years. I've got no one to look after----' 'Then why didn't _you_ tell _me_ at once who you were?' she questioned with adorable pertness. 'Oh!' he laughed; 'how could I--plump like that? When I saw you first, in the bureau, the stricken image of your mother at your age, I was nearly down. But I came up all right, didn't I, my dear? I acted it out well, didn't I?' * * * * *