Sorely distressed, he walked back to his lodgings in Thirty-second Street. Wild, Quixotic notions of sacrifice flooded his mood of dejection. If the worst came, he could go West with the family and learn how to do something. And yet--Mrs. Wybert. Of course it must be that. The other idea was absurd--too wild for serious consideration. He was thirty years old, and there was only one way for an English gentleman to live--even if it must break the heart of a poor girl who had loved him devotedly, and for whom he had felt a steady and genuine affection. He passed a troubled night. Down at the hotel of Peter Bines was an intimation from Mrs. Wybert herself, bearing upon this same fortuity. When Uncle Peter reached there at 2 A.M., he found in his box a small scented envelope which he opened with wonder. Two enclosures fell out. One was a clipping from an evening paper, announcing the birth of twin sons to Lord Casselthorpe. The other was the card he had left with Mrs. Wybert on the day of his call; his name on one side, announcing him; on the other the words he had written: "Sell Consolidated Copper all you can until it goes down to 65. Do this up to the limit of your capital and I will make good anything you lose. "PETER BINES." He read the note: "ARLINGHAM HOTEL--7.30. "MR. PETER BINES: "_Dear Sir_:--You funny old man, you. I don't pretend to understand your game, but you may rely on my secrecy. I am more grateful to you than words can utter--and I will always be glad to do anything for you. "_Yours very truly_, "BLANCHE CATHERTON WYBERT. "P. S. About that other matter--him you know--you will see from this notice I cut from the paper that the party won't get any title at all now, so a dead swell New York man is in every way more eligible. In fact the other party is not to be thought of for one moment, as I am positive you would agree with me." * * * * * He tore the note and the card to fine bits. "It does beat all," he complained later to Billy Brue. "Put a beggar on horseback and they begin right away to fuss around because the bridle ain't set with diamonds--give 'em a little, and they want the whole ball of wax!" "That's right," said Billy Brue, with the quick sympathy of the experienced. "That guy that doped me, he wa'n't satisfied with my good thirty-dollar wad. Not by no means! He had to go take my breast-pin nugget from the Early Bird." At eleven o'clock the next morning Mauburn waited in Mrs. Drelmer's drawing-room for the news she might have. When that competent person sailed in, he saw temporary defeat written on her brow. His heart sank to its low level of the night before.