"But I have your--I can count on your approval?" he whispered eagerly. "Don't, Roxbury! People will think you are making love to _me_!" she protested, wilfully ignoring his question. He returned to the box after the second act and proposed a turn in the foyer. To his disgust, Ulstervelt appropriated Constance and left him to follow with Mrs. Rodney and Katherine. He almost hated Edith for the tantalising smile she shot after him as he moved away, defeated. If he was glaring luridly at the irrepressible Freddie, he was not alone in his gloom. Katherine Rodney, green with jealousy, was sending spiteful glances after her dearest friend, while Mrs. Rodney was sniffing the air as if it was laden with frost. "Don't you think Connie is a perfect dear? I'm so fond of her," said Miss Rodney, so sweetly that he should have detected the nether-flow. He started and pulled himself together. "Aw, yes,--ripping!" He consciously adjusted his eyeglass for a hasty glance about in search of the easily disturbed Mr. Rodney. Then, to Mrs. Rodney, his mind a blank after a passing glimpse of Constance and her escort: "Aw--er--a perfectly jolly opera, isn't it?" CHAPTER IV THE WOULD-BE BROTHER-IN-LAW The next morning, bright and early, Mr. Alfred Rodney, a telegram in his hand, charged down the hall to Mrs. Medcroft's door. With characteristic Far West impulsiveness he banged on the door. A sleepy voice asked who was there. "It's me--Rodney. Get up. I want to see Medcroft. Say, Roxbury, wake up!" "Roxbury?" came in shrill tones from within. "He--Isn't he upstairs? Good heaven, Mr. Rodney, what has happened? What _has_ happened?" "Upstairs? What the deuce is he doing upstairs?"' "He's--he's sleeping! Do tell me what's the matter?" "Isn't this Mr. Medcroft's room?" "Ye-es--but he isn't in. He objects to the noise. Oh, has anything happened to Roxbury?" She was standing just inside the door, and her voice betrayed agitation. "My dear Edith, don't get excited. I have a telegram from--" She uttered a shriek. "He's been assassinated! Oh, Roxbury!" "What the dev--Are you crazy? It's a telegram from ----" "Oh, heavens! I knew they'd kill him--I knew something dreadful would happen if I left--" Here she stopped suddenly. He distinctly heard her catch her breath. After a moment she went on warily: "Is it from a man named Hobart?" "No! It's from Odell-Carney. Hobart? I don't know anybody named Hobart." (How was he to know that Hobart was the name that Medcroft had chosen for correspondence purposes?) "We're to meet the Odell-Carneys to-day in Munich. No time to be lost. We've got to catch the nine o'clock train." "Oh!" came in great relief from the other side of the door. Then, in sudden dismay: "But I can't do it! The idea of getting up at an hour like this!" "What room is Roxbury in?" "I--_don't_ KNOW!!" in very decided tones. "Inquire at the office!"