.

He smiled at the recollection of his dumb surprise at this apparition,
and was in the best of humors with himself when he arrived at the
inquiry office of the Savoy Hotel and asked for Mr. Peter Vanrenen.

"Left here Sunday, sir," was the answer. "He will not return for a
week."

This blow dished his hopes. He had counted strongly on gaining
Vanrenen's friendship and sympathy before Cynthia's dainty vision
met his eyes again.

"Has he gone to Paris?" he inquired.

"Can't say, sir, I'm sure. My orders are to tell callers that Mr.
Vanrenen will be in town next Tuesday."

So, if present arrangements held good, Cynthia would reach London two
days before her father. Well, he must contrive somehow to get Lady St.
Maur in a proper frame of mind. Mrs. Leland's presence would be a
positive blessing in that respect. Meanwhile, there would be no harm
done if he----

Lest prudence should conquer him a second time he sat down and wrote:

DEAR MISS VANRENEN--I hope the car is behaving in a manner
that befits the messenger of the gods, and that Dale has
justified my faith in him. I am here in fulfillment of my
promise to call on Mr. Vanrenen: unluckily, he is out of
town, and the hotel people say he is not expected back till
a day early next week. If you make any change in your
programme, or even if you have a minute to spare, though
proving yourself a true American by rigidly adhering to
schedule, please send a line to yours ever sincerely----

Once more he hesitated at the name, and contented himself by signing
"George, the Chauffeur."

The problem of an address offered some difficulty, but he boldly
declared for "91 Grosvenor Square" in a postscript, believing, and
correctly as it happened, that Cynthia shared with Sam Weller a
peculiar knowledge of London that rendered one address very like unto
another in her eyes.

The failure to meet Vanrenen was the first real drawback he had
encountered. It was irritating, at the time, but he gave little heed
to it after the first pang of disappointment had passed. Fate, which
had proved so kind during six days, did not see fit to warn him that
her smiles would now be replaced by frowns. She even lulled him into
the belief that Vanrenen's absence might prove fortunate.

"Perhaps," he fancied, "I would have rubbed him up the wrong way. He
is devoted to his daughter, and he might look on my harmless but
unavoidable guile with a pr