"My dear boy, in any case I must go home and dress. Let us change the dinner into a supper at the Savoy, and I'll come here at nine o'clock to accompany you to the Empire." Cannington was satisfied with this alteration, and nodded. Then, in my turn, I took leave of the ladies and departed in the company of my proposed father-in-law. At the door a really magnificent motor, far surpassing my machine, was waiting, a brougham motor, with a chauffeur and a liveried footman. How Mr. Monk contrived to live in this style on five hundred a year I could not conceive: the machine alone must have cost three times the amount of his entire income. Then, with indignation, I thought of my dear, uncomplaining girl at Burwain, with her one poor frock and her touching belief in the honesty and kind-heartedness of this little villain. When we were safe in the motor and the footman had received his orders to take the vehicle "Home!"--to Strafford Street, no doubt--Mr. Monk made himself comfortable, then patted my knee in a most amiable manner. "Very good indeed, my dear sir, very good indeed," he said suavely, and in a most self-controlled manner, "you kept my little secret in a way worthy of a man of the world." "Thank you. I am waiting for an explanation now," I said dryly. "Do you think I owe you one?" "I am of that opinion, Mr. Monk." "Hush!" He glanced anxiously through the glass at the backs of the footmen and chauffeur. "Here, in London; I am Mr. Marr." "Mr. Wentworth Marr," I said mockingly. "May I ask why?" "I do not see," he said smoothly, "that you have any right to ask questions concerning my private business." "I must correct you there," I answered hotly. "Lady Mabel Wotton, her brother, and Lady Denham are friends of mine. I do not wish to see them deceived, Mr.--er--er--Wentworth Marr." "That is very creditable to your heart, Mr. Vance. But I fail to see how I am deceiving them." "You wish to marry Lady Mabel?" "Is that a crime? I am a widower, and am free to take another wife." "Not under the pretence that you are a wealthy man." "How do you know?" asked Mr. Monk, smiling politely, "that I am not a wealthy man, Mr. Vance?" "Pshaw, man!" I rejoined heatedly, for his cool insolence was getting on my nerves. "You have a life interest in five hundred a year and a tumbledown house with a few acres of land at Burwain." "So far as you know, Mr. Vance, those are all my possessions, but when we reach my rooms," he leaned forward and peered through the misty glass, "we are nearly there now, I am glad to say, you will have an explanation which will astonish you. Had you recognized me when at Lady Denham's----" "I did recognize you." "Had you denounced me, I should have said," he went on pleasantly, "I should have made the explanation then and there." "Ah!" said I meaningly, "I thought my chance mention of Cannington's name at Burwain forearmed you."