Professor Seveignien was a boarder at the hotel. Louis had taken lessons of him two years, though he had now discontinued them; but he and his instructor were still warm friends, and his pupil occasionally called upon him. While waiting to see him on the piazza one day, Mr. Fobbington spoke to him. He was very polite, and the young millionaire endeavored to make himself agreeable. Of course they talked about the weather in due form, as an introduction to more inviting topics. Then the stranger thought the Park was a beautiful place, and as Louis was a native of the delightful resort, as few of its present inhabitants were, he was duly appreciative of the compliment; but by this time the resident of the town could not help seeing that the stranger had some object in view, and he began to wonder what he was driving at. “I sat within hearing of you last evening, Mr. Belgrave, when you were in conversation with Professor Seveignien,” said Mr. Fobbington, apparently coming a little nearer to the subject. “Are you acquainted with the professor, sir?” asked Louis. “No, sir; not at all, I regret to say, for he is a very attractive person.” Mr. Fobbington had inquired about him of the clerk. “But we were speaking in French,” added Louis, looking with interest into the face of the stranger. “Precisely so,” replied Mr. Fobbington, with an expressive smile. “I always talk French with the professor for the sake of practice.” “It requires a great deal of practice to enable one to speak French fluently,” said the stranger, using that language. “I was very much surprised to observe how well you spoke it. You handle it better than I do, though I have lived a year in Paris.” Louis suggested that he had lived there long enough to acquire the art of complimenting. Mr. Fobbington had made a long reach into the good-will of Louis by speaking French to him, for the young man was a very enthusiastic student of the language. Still using it the accomplished gentleman from Louis knew not where, though he thought his companion must be an Englishman, for his English was even better than his French, came still nearer the subject he was clearly trying to introduce. “You were talking with the professor about yachting,” continued Mr. Fobbington. “I was exceedingly pleased with your views on that subject, especially as they fully conform to my own.” “I am happy to meet a gentleman whose views agree with mine.” “More than that, Mr. Belgrave, I have had no little experience in carrying out those views,” added the stranger, with a gush of enthusiasm. “Indeed?”