“Ah, of course; excellent servant, too. Jack told me he had left him with you.” Sir John leant out of the window and asked the footman whether he knew his colleague Joseph, and upon receiving an answer in the affirmative he gave orders--acting as Guy's mouthpiece--that the luggage was to be conveyed to Russell Square. While these orders were being executed the two men sat waiting in the carriage, and Sir John lost no time. “I am glad,” he said, “to have this opportunity of thanking you for all your kindness to my son in this wild expedition of yours.” “Yes,” replied Oscard, with a transparent reserve which rather puzzled Sir John. “You must excuse me,” said the old gentleman, sitting rather stiffly, “if I appear to take a somewhat limited interest in this great Simiacine discovery, of which there has been considerable talk in some circles. The limit to my interest is drawn by a lamentable ignorance. I am afraid the business details are rather unintelligible to me. My son has endeavoured, somewhat cursorily perhaps, to explain the matter to me, but I have never mastered the--er--commercial technicalities. However, I understand that you have made quite a mint of money, which is the chief consideration--nowadays.” He drew the rug more closely round his knees and looked out of the window, deeply interested in a dispute between two cabmen. “Yes--we have been very successful,” said Oscard. “How is your son now? When I last saw him he was in a very bad way. Indeed, I hardly expected to see him again!” Sir John was still interested in the dispute, which was not yet settled. “He is well, thank you. You know that he is going to be married.” “He told me that he was engaged,” replied Oscard; “but I did not know that anything definite was fixed.” “The most definite thing of all is fixed--the date. It is to-morrow.” “To-morrow?” “Yes. You have not much time to prepare your wedding garments.” “Oh,” replied Oscard, with a laugh, “I have not been bidden.” “I expect the invitation is awaiting you at your house. No doubt my son will want you to be present--they would both like you to be there, no doubt. But come with me now; we will call and see Jack. I know where to find him. In fact, I have an appointment with him at a quarter to five.” It may seem strange that Guy Oscard should not have asked the name of his friend's prospective bride, but Sir John was ready for that. He gave his companion no time. Whenever he opened his lips Sir John turned Oscard's thoughts aside. What he had told him was strictly true. He had an appointment with Jack--an appointment of his own making. “Yes,” he said, in pursuance of his policy of choking questions, “he is wonderfully well, as you will see for yourself.”