"Of course, it is quite fair. She wishes to be free as much as I do. She gets what she wants and I get what I want--a mere ceremony can be annulled at any time. She jumped at the idea, I tell you, Henry--I have not got time to go into the pros and cons of that side of the question, and I don't want to hear your views or any one else's on the matter. I mean to marry the girl on Thursday night--and you can quite well put off going South until Friday morning, and see me through it." Mr. Fordyce prepared to go towards the door, and when there said, in a voice of ice: "I shall do no such thing. I cannot prevent your doing this, I suppose--taking advantage of a young girl for your own ends, it seems to me--so I shall go now." Michael's temper began to blaze with this, his oldest friend. "As you please," he flashed. "But it is perfect rot, all this high palaver. The girl gains by it as well as I. I am not taking the least advantage of her. I shall have to get her guardian's consent, and I suppose he'll know what he is up to. I have never taken any one's advice, and I am not going to begin now, old boy--so we had better say good-bye if you won't stop." He came over to the door, and then he smiled his radiant, irresistible smile so like a mischievous jolly boy's. "Give me joy, Henry, old friend," he said, and held out his hand. But Henry Fordyce looked grave as a judge as he took it. "I can't do that, Michael. I am very angry with you. I have known you ever since you were born, and we have been real pals, although I am so much older than you--but I'm damned if I'll stay and see you through this folly. Good-bye." And without a word further he went out of the room, closing the door softly behind him. Michael gave a sort of whoop to Binko, who sprang at him in love and excitement, while he cried: "Very well! Get along, old saint!" Then he rang the bell, and to the footman when he came he handed the note he had written to be taken to Mr. Fergusson, and sent orders for Johnson to pack for two nights, and for his motor to be ready to catch the 10:40 express at the junction for London town. Then he seized his cap and, calling Binko, he went off into the garden, and so on to the park and to the golf house, where, securing his professional, he played a vigorous round, and when he got back to the castle again, just before dinner, he was informed that Mr. Fordyce had left in his own motor for Edinburgh. CHAPTER IV An opalescence of soft light and peace and beauty was over the park of Arranstoun on this June night of its master's wedding, and he walked among the giant trees to the South Lodge gate, only a few hundred yards from the postern, which he reached from his sitting-room. All had gone well in London. Mr. Parsons had raised no objection, being indeed greatly flattered at the proposed alliance--for who had not heard of the famous border Castle of Arranstoun and envied its possessor? They had talked a long time and settled everything.