"Very well. Let us appoint a day next week and overhaul the entire collection. I intend to keep the big ones to form the center ornaments of a tiara, a necklace, and gewgaws of that sort." "I am glad to hear it." "My dear fellow, I suppose there will be a Mrs. Anson some day, but I have not found her yet." "'Who'er she be, That not impossible she, That shall command my heart and me.'" And a ripple of laughter chased away the last shadows from his face. CHAPTER XIV. _An Adventure._ Mr. Abingdon took his departure at an early hour; his excellent wife was indisposed, and her age rendered him anxious. Philip wrote a curt letter to Sharpe & Smith. He had given thought to their statements, he said, and wished to hold no further communication with either Sir Philip Morland or his representatives. Then he ordered his private hansom, intending to visit the Universities' Club. It was a fine evening, one of those rare nights when _blasé_ London abandons herself for an hour to the delights of spring. The tops of omnibuses passing through Park Lane were enlivened by muslin dresses and flower-covered hats. Men who passed in hansoms wore evening dress without an overcoat. Old earth was growing again, and if weather-wise folk predicted that such an unusually high temperature meant thunderstorms and showers it would indeed be a poor heart that did not rejoice in the influences of the moment. Two powdered and noiseless footmen threw open the door as Philip appeared in the hall. He stood for a little while in the entrance buttoning his gloves. A strong electric light--he loved light--fell on him and revealed his firm face and splendidly proportioned frame. He cast a critical eye on a sleek horse in the shafts, and smiled pleasantly at the driver. "Good gracious, Wale," he said, "your cattle are becoming as fat as yourself." "All your fault, sir," was the cheerful reply. "You don't use 'em 'arf enough." "I can't pass my time in being driven about town to reduce the weight of my coachman and horses. Wale, if you don't do something desperate, there will be an 'h' after the 'w' in your name." He sprang into the vehicle. With a lively "Kim up!" Wale got his stout steed into a remarkably fast trot. A tall man, who had been loitering and smoking beneath the trees across the road for a long time, sauntered toward a tradesman's cart which was standing near the area gate of the next house, while the man in charge gossiped with a kitchenmaid. "Beg pardon," he said to the couple, "is that Mr. Philip Anson's place?" with an indicatory jerk of his thumb. "Yes," said the man. "An' was that Mr. Anson himself who drove away in a private cab?" "Yes," said the girl. "Thanks. It does one good to see a young chap like him so jolly and comfortable, and provided with everything he can want in the world; eh?" "I wish I 'ad a bit of 'is little lot," sighed the greengrocer's assistant, with a side glance at the maid.