The two laughed and took her advice, even to the extent of making a very excellent luncheon, plain as the fare was. When the meal ended, Marie carried off Fuller to the library and lighted his cigarette with her own fair hands. When he was comfortably puffing clouds of bluish smoke, Miss Inderwick, perched on the arm of his chair, ruffled his hair and told him that he was the most disagreeable person in the wide world. This led to amiable contradiction, finally to kissing and it was when they were in the middle of these philanderings, that they raised their eyes to see Mr. Sorley standing at the door. He was stiff with indignation, and looked more like a haughty unbending aristocrat than ever. “So this is the way in which you deceive me, Marie?” he said with an angry look. “How dare you?” “Why not,” said Fuller, as the girl sprang away from his chair in alarm. “I love Marie and she loves me. You must have seen that ages ago, Mr. Sorley.” “I did, sir, but the position does not meet with my approval.” “Who cares,” cried his niece defiantly. “I shan’t marry anyone but Alan.” “You shall marry the man I select,” said Sorley sternly, “unless——” “Unless what?” demanded Fuller coolly. He was perfectly sure that Marie would remain true to him, and therefore had no fear of her uncle. “I shall explain that when we are alone.” “Explain now,” said Miss Inderwick swiftly, “I have a right to know why you object to Alan becoming my husband.” “He has no money and no position.” “I shall make money and make a position,” said Alan calmly, “all in good time, Mr. Sorley, all in good time.” “He will be Lord Chancellor one day,” said Marie boldly. “You will have gray hairs by that time,” snapped her uncle, “and until he is Lord Chancellor, you certainly shan’t marry him.” “I shall. So there.” “You shall not.” “Unless,” observed Alan smoothly, “you said unless, Mr. Sorley.” “Unless you find the Begum’s treasure.” “Oh, Uncle Ran,” cried Marie in dismay, “when you know that the peacock is lost, and without that no one can solve the riddle, or even know exactly what it is.” “The peacock is——” began Sorley, and stopped short. “Never mind. Go away, my dear, and let me talk to Alan.” He spoke so mildly that Marie began to think better of the position. He did not appear to be so dead against her marriage with Fuller, as his earlier words had intimated. Alan, on his part, guessed from the abrupt stopping of the sentence, that Sorley knew something about the missing peacock which he did not wish to reveal while Marie was in the room. Acting on this hint he took the bull by the horns.