"Yes," said Lewis, slowly, "I see. I can follow your logic to the very end. I can't answer it. All I know is that I myself--I couldn't have paid the price, nor--nor let Vi pay it." "And to tell you the truth," said Leighton with a smile, "I don't know that I'm sorry." Lewis rose to his feet. "Well, Dad," he said, "it's about twelve o'clock." "Go ahead, my boy," said Leighton. "Bring the lady to lunch to-day or any other day--if she'll come. Just telephone Nelton." CHAPTER XXXVI DURING the next few days Leighton saw little of his son and nothing of Folly, but he learned quite casually that the lady was occupying an apartment overlooking Hyde Park. From that it was easy for him to guess her address, and one morning, without saying anything to Lewis of his plans, he presented himself at Folly's door. A trim maid opened to his ring. "Is Mlle. Delaires in, my dear?" asked Leighton. The maid stiffened, and peered intently at Leighton, who stood at ease in the half-dusk of the hall. When she had quite made out his trim, well-dressed figure, she decided not to be as haughty as she had at first intended. "Miss Delaires," she said, without quite unbending, however, "is not in to callers at half after ten; she's in her bath." "I am fortunate," remarked Leighton, coolly. "Will you take her my card?" He weighted it with a sovereign. "Oh, sir," said the maid, "it's not fair for me to take it. She won't be seeing you. I can promise." "Where shall I wait?" asked Leighton, stepping past her. "This way, sir." He was shown into a small, but dainty, sitting-room. The door beyond was ajar, and before the maid closed it he caught a glimpse of a large bedroom still in disarray. In the better light the maid glanced at his face and then at his card. "What kin are you to Mr. Lewis Leighton, please, sir?" she asked. "I have every reason to believe that I'm his father," said Leighton, smiling. "I should say you had, sir," answered the maid, with a laugh, "if looks is a guaranty. But even so she won't see you, I'm afraid." "I don't mind much if she doesn't," said Leighton. "Just to have had this chat with you makes it a charming morning." In saying that Miss Delaires was in her bath, the maid had committed an anachronism. Folly was not in her bath. She had been in her bath over an hour ago; now she was in her bandages.