"I don't know for certain, I tell you.... Langly Sprowl has been roving around the place a great deal lately. He and Strelsa ride together nearly every day." "Do you think she has come to an understanding with him?" "She hasn't told me so. Perhaps she prefers Sir Charles." "Do you believe that?" "Frankly, no. I'm much more afraid that Langly has persuaded her into some sort of a tacit engagement.... I don't know what the child can be thinking of--unless the universal criticism of Langly Sprowl has convinced her of his martyrdom.... There'll be a pretty situation when Mary Ledwith returns.... I could kill Langly--" She doubled both pretty hands and frowned at Quarren, then her swift smile broke out and she placed the tips of her fingers on his shoulders and stooping from the top step deliberately kissed him. [Illustration: "'I didn't tell Strelsa that you were coming,' she whispered."] "You dear fellow," she said; "I don't care what Strelsa thinks; I'm glad you've come. And, oh, Ricky! The papers are full of you and Dankmere and your new enterprise!--I laughed and laughed!--forgive me, but the papers were so funny--and I couldn't help laughing----" Quarren forced a smile. "I have an idea," he said, "that our new business is destined to command a good deal of respect sooner or later." "Has Dankmere anything really valuable in his collection?" "I'm taking that risk," he said, gaily. "Wait a few weeks, Molly, before you and Jim try to buy the entire collection." "I can see Jim decorating the new 'Stinger' with old masters," laughed Molly. "Come upstairs with me; I'll show you your quarters. Go lightly and don't talk; Strelsa is wandering around the house somewhere with a bad case of blue devils, and I'd rather she were over her headache before your appearance adds another distressing jolt." "Has she had another shock recently?" "A letter from her lawyers. There won't be anything at all left for her." "Are you sure?" "She is. Why, Ricky, the City had half a million on deposit there, and even that foxy young man Langly was caught for twice as much more. It's a ghastly scandal--the entire affair. How many cents on a dollar do you suppose poor little Strelsa is going to recover? Not two!" They paused at the door of his quarters. His luggage had already arrived and a valet was busy unpacking for him. "Sir Charles, Chrysos Lacy, Jim and I are motoring. We'll be back for tea. Prowl about, Ricky; the place is yours and everything in it--except that little girl over there"--pointing along the corridor to a distant door. He smiled. "She may be, yet," he said lightly. "Don't come back too soon." So Molly went away laughing; and presently through the lace curtains, Quarren saw Jim Wycherly whirl up in a yellow touring car, and Molly, Chrysos, and Sir Charles clamber in for one of those terrific and headlong drives which made Jim's hospitality a terror to the majority of his guests.