"If you can make five shillings out of a working man," was his dictum, "make it. We cannot afford to despise the smallest amount," and in consequence Poltavo was paying as much attention to the ill-written and illiterate scrawls which came from the East End of London, as he was to the equally illiterate efforts of the under-butler, describing an error of his master's in a northern ducal seat. Poltavo went through the letters systematically, putting this epistle to the right, and that to the left; this to make food for the newspaper; that, as a subject for further operations. Presently he stopped and looked up at the ceiling. "So she must marry Frank Doughton within a week," he said to himself in wonder. Yes, Farrington had insisted upon carrying out his plans, knowing the power he held, and he, Poltavo, had accepted the ultimatum in all meekness of spirit. "I must be losing my nerve," he muttered. "Married in a week! Am I to give her up, this gracious, beautiful girl--with her future, or without her fortune?" He smiled, and it was not a pleasant smile to see. "No, my friend, I think you have gone a little too far. You depended too much upon my acquiescence. Ernesto, _mon ami_, you have to do some quick thinking between now and next Monday." A telephone buzzed at his elbow, and he took it off and listened. "Yes?" he asked, and then he recognized the speaker's voice, and his voice went soft and caressing, for it was the voice of Doris Gray that he heard. "Can you see me to-morrow?" she asked. "I can see you to-day, my lady, at once, if you wish it," he said, lightly. There was a little hesitation at the other end of the wire. "If you could, I should feel glad," she said. "I am rather troubled." "Not seriously, I hope?" he asked, anxiously. "I have had a letter from some one," she said, meaningly. "I think I understand," he replied; "some one wishes you to do a thing which is a repugnant to you." "I cannot say that," she said, and there was despair in her voice; "all I know is that I am bewildered by the turn events have taken. Do you know the contents of the letter?" "I know," he said, gently; "it was my misfortune to be the bearer of the communication." "What do you think?" she asked, after a while. "You know what I think," he said, passionately. "Can you expect me to agree to this?" The intensity of his voice frightened her, and she rapidly strove to bring him down to a condition of normality. "Come to-morrow," she said, hastily. "I would like to talk it over with you." "I will come at once," he said. "Perhaps you had better not," she hesitated. "I am coming at once," he said, firmly, and hung up the receiver.