Then I thought of my talk with Gwendolyn, and telephoned to young Forbes and told him that I was going to Italy, and asked: “Any message to send?” “Sure,” said he. “I'll come down to see you.” “We dine at seven,” I said. “Put on a plate for me,” he requested. I had scarcely hung up the receiver when the bell rang and my secretary notified me that he had engaged a good room on the _Toltec_, and would be at my hotel in twenty minutes. I went down to the office and wrote a cablegram to Norris, in which I said that we were going over to see the country and would call on him within ten days. To pay the charges I took out my pocket-book. There was no money in it. What had happened to me? There had been two one-hundred-dollar bills in the book when I had paid for last evening's dinner; now it held nothing but a slip of paper neatly folded. I opened it and read these words written with a pencil: _Thanks. This is the last call. M._ Then I remembered that yesterday's trousers had been hanging in the bath-room with my money in the right-hand pocket when Muggs was there. I had got the book and taken it with me when I went for a walk. “He may be a busted philanthropist, but he's not a busted thief,” I mused. V.--IN WHICH WE HAVE AN AMUSING VOYAGE BETSEY had been a bit disturbed by the swiftness of my plans. On her arrival in town she said to me: “Look here, Socrates Potter, I'm no longer a colt, and you'll have to drive slower. What are you up to, anyway?” “A surprise-party!” I answered. “Cheer up! It's our honeymoon trip. I've decided that after a man has married a woman it's his duty to get well acquainted with her. What's the use of having a breastful of love and affection and no time to show it. To begin with we shall have the best dinner this hotel affords.” Our table, which had been well adorned with flowers, awaited us, and we sat down to dinner. Richard Forbes came while we were eating our oysters and joined us. We talked of many things, and while we were eating our dessert I sailed into the subject nearest my heart by saying: “I kind o' guessed that you'd want to send a message.” “How did you know it?” he asked. “Oh, by sundry looks and glances of your eye when I saw you last.” “They didn't deceive you,” said he. “Tell them that they may see me in Rome before long. Miss Norris was kind enough to say in a letter that they would be glad to see me. I haven't answered yet. You might gently break the news of my plan and let me know how they stand it.” “I'll give them your affectionate regard--that's as far as I am willing to go--and I'll tell them to prepare for your presence. If they show evidence of alarm I'll let you know. I kind o' mistrust that you may be needed there and--and wanted.” “No joking now!” he warned me. “Those titled chaps are likely to get after her, and I may want you to help me head 'em off. You'd be a silly feller to let them grab the prize.”