he Duke smiling, "of your being in close
conference with Sir Timothy--"

"I, sir?"

"Yes, you. Mr. Boncassen told me that you and he were so deeply taken
up with each other at his house, that nobody could get a word with
either of you."

"Have you seen Mr. Boncassen?" asked the son, whose attention was
immediately diverted from his father's political badinage.

"Yes;--I have seen him. I happened to meet him where I was dining
last Sunday, and he walked home with me. He was so intent upon what
he was saying that I fear he allowed me to take him out of his way."

"What was he talking about?" said Silverbridge. All his preparations,
all his eloquence, all his method, now seemed to have departed from
him.

"He was talking about you," said the Duke.

"He had told me that he wanted to see you. What did he say, sir?"

"I suppose you can guess what he said. He wished to know what I
thought of the offer you have made to his daughter." The great
subject had come up so easily, so readily, that he was almost aghast
when he found himself in the middle of it. And yet he must speak of
the matter, and that at once.

"I hope you raised no objection, sir," he said.

"The objection came mainly from him; and I am bound to say that every
word that fell from him was spoken with wisdom."

"But still he asked you to consent."

"By no means. He told me his opinion,--and then he asked me a
question."

"I am sure he did not say that we ought not to be married."

"He did say that he thought you ought not to be married, if--"

"If what, sir?"

"If there were probability that his daughter would not be well
received as your wife. Then he asked me what would be my reception of
her." Silverbridge looked up into his father's face with beseeching
imploring eyes as though everything now depended on the next few
words that he might utter. "I shall think it an unwise marriage,"
continued the Duke. Silverbridge when he heard this at once knew that
he had gained his cause. His father had spoken of the marriage as a
thing that was to happen. A joyous light dawned in his eyes, and the
look of pain went from his brow, all which the Duke was not slow
to perceive. "I shall think it an unwise marriage," he continued,
repeating his words; "but I was bound to tell him that were Miss
Boncassen to become your wife she would also become my daughter."

"Oh, sir."

"I told him why the marriage would be distasteful to me. Whether I
may be wrong or