The duchess ran Dan, made plans, set the pace, and they were very much in evidence during the season. The young American, good-natured and generous, the duchess beautiful and knowing, were the observed of London, and those of her friends who would have tolerated Dan on account of his money, ended by sincerely liking him. The wedding-day had not been fixed as yet, and Dan was not so violently carried away that he could not wait to be married. Meanwhile Gordon Galorey thanked God for the delay and hoped for a miracle to break the spell over his friend’s son before it should be too late. In early May the question came up regarding the musicale. The duchess made her list and arranged the Sunday afternoon and her performers to suit her taste, and the week before lounged in her boudoir when Dan and Galorey appeared for a late morning call. “There, Dan,” she said, holding out a bit of paper, “look at the list and the program, will you?” “Sounds and reads all right,” commented Dan, handing it on to Galorey. Besides being an artistic event, she intended that the concert should serve to present Dan to her special set. She now lit a cigarette and gave one to each of her friends, lighting the Englishman’s herself. “The best names in London,” Lord Galorey said. “You see, Dan, we shall trot you out in a royal way. I hope you fully appreciate how swagger this is to be.” Glancing at the list Blair remarked: “But I don’t see Miss Lane’s name?” “Why should you?” the duchess answered sharply. “Why, we planned all along that she was to sing,” he returned. She gave a long puff to her cigarette. “We did _rather_ speak of it. But we shall do very well as we are. The program is full up and it’s perfectly ripping as it stands.” “Yes, there’s only just one thing the matter with it,” the boy smiled good-naturedly, “and it’s easy enough to run her in. I guess Miss Lane could be run in most anywhere on any program and not clear the house.” Lord Galorey, who knew nothing about the subject under discussion, said tactfully: “Why, of course, Letty Lane is perfectly charming, but you couldn’t get her, my dear chap.” “I think we will let the thing stand as it is,” said the duchess, going back to her desk and stirring her paper about. “It’s really too late now, you know, Dan.” Unruffled, but with a determination which Lord Galorey and the lady were far from guessing, Blair resumed tranquilly: “Oh, I guess she’ll come in all right, late as it is. We’ll send word to her and fix it up.” The duchess turned to him, annoyed: “Oh, don’t be a beastly bore, dear—you are not really serious.” Dan still smiled at her sweetly. “You bet your life I am, though, Lily.” She rang a bell at the side of her desk, and when the footman came in gave him the sheet of paper. “See that this is taken at once to the stationer’s.”