his plan, he had seen the agents:
Holland and Belgium first; then a performance at Ludwig's Concert House,
in Hamburg, and a brilliant first appearance before a hall filled with
managers. Already he saw himself in the famous little room of the Cafe
Grueber, where so many contracts were signed during the few days that the
hearing-season lasted, and then he would have the whole continent, from
St. Petersburg to Lisbon, make heaps of money, treat Lily like the little
peach she was and cover her with diamonds, by Jove! Trampy, meanwhile, was
none too easy in his mind: funds were low; the two pounds paid at the
registrar's office had lightened his purse still more. Fortunately, the
fire-escape had not had his seven-and-six-pence: that was so much saved.

"A poor consolation," thought Trampy. "The price of a dog-license."

But he was gay, nevertheless, in his wife's company. He forgot his
thirty-six girls. He told Lily stories, made her squirm with laughter,
played with her, dazzled her with the champagne suppers ... which they
would have later on. Or else, like the consummate mummer that he was, he
put on the gloomy countenance of a man about to reveal the secret of his
heart:

"I'm a wretch," he muttered, while Lily, in her innocence--Lily, who had
been living on tenter-hooks since her flight from home a few days
before--turned her frightened eyes upon him. "A miserable wretch ...
married. Yes, it's true; I'm married, Lily."

"It's true what they said? You're married?"

"Yes, I am."

"Oh, I knew it!" said Lily, in despair. "But then ... if you are ... I'm
not!"

"You silly little thing!" said Trampy, kissing her and taking her on his
knee. "Yes, I'm married; yes; and no one shall separate us. Haven't I the
prettiest little wife--here, on my knee--my little Lily?"

"Oh, how you frightened me!" said Lily, nestling against him. "Oh, don't
ever let us part!"

With a wife like that, said Trampy to himself, a little discomfort more or
less made no difference. As long as she had her dear husband, she would be
happy. She would have eyes for nothing but him and would not care a fig
for all the rest.

Now she loved him: there was no doubt about that. She had left everything
for him! He could even have had her without marriage, by Jove, and saved
two pounds, if he had insisted! So he thought, at least, and he put a
conquering arm round Lily's waist, while she, with her head on his
shoulder, dreamed and dreamed, her eyes fi