"I really can't go into that," said Meldon. "You must understand it perfectly well, and in any case I'm bound to respect Miss King's confidence. I can't possibly repeat to you things she has said to me in a strictly private way." "Of course if my niece--but that puzzles me even more. She hasn't said a word to me about any private understanding with you." "She wouldn't," said Meldon, "and I daresay I ought not to have mentioned that such a thing exists. However, in the end, of course, you'll know all about it." "In the end?" "Yes. After the marriage. Shortly after." "If she really is to be married," said the judge, "I wish she'd hurry up about it. I hate these mysteries." "You can't hate them more than I do," said Meldon, "and you can rely upon me to bring things to their crisis, their preliminary crisis--the actual marriage can't take place for a fortnight--as soon as possible." "Do. By the preliminary crisis I suppose you mean the engagement." "Certainly. I shall use every effort to bring that off this afternoon. Now that I know you're as keen on it as I am myself, I think I may pledge you my word that it will come off this afternoon. But, if so, I must leave you now. Good-bye." CHAPTER XXII. It was nearly twelve o'clock when Meldon left Sir Gilbert Hawkesby. He walked rapidly down to Ballymoy House, and seized his bicycle. Miss King, who had been watching for him, ran out and invited him to stay for luncheon. Meldon excused himself briefly on the plea of really urgent business. "But can't you spare us even an hour?" said Miss King persuasively. Meldon sprang into the saddle. It was his custom to mount from the pedal, and on this occasion the pedal came off. "Now," said Miss King, "your bicycle is broken and you must stay." "It's Doyle's bicycle," he said. "I wouldn't own a machine like this. My temper would wear thin in a week if I did." He turned the bicycle upside down, and set to work vigorously with a wrench. "If," said Meldon, "my business were my own--that's to say, if I were acting in my private capacity for my own interests--I should let the whole thing slide at once." He screwed hard at a nut as he spoke. "But what I have to do concerns the whole community here. It is also of the greatest importance to you, Miss King." "To me?" "And my action has, I may add, the warmest approval of the judge. There! Thank goodness, that wretched thing is stuck on again. Good-bye for the present, Miss King." "But-- Oh, do wait for a moment! You really must explain--" Meldon mounted and rode away while she spoke. Just before he disappeared from view, he turned his head and shouted back,-- "You'll know all about it this afternoon, Miss King."