nger concerns me."

"Then I will not occupy your time with a vain attempt to change your
opinion of me, but will proceed at once to the request I have to make."

"I shall feel obliged by your doing so," said Mr. Emerson, in a manner
which intimated that he wished to close the interview.

"All I ask," proceeded Maurice, "is that you will take no further steps
until"--

"I have no further steps to take," interrupted Mr. Emerson, frigidly.

Maurice looked puzzled, but, imagining that Mr. Emerson did not choose
to understand him, he added, "I mean, in plain language, that you will
not make the affair public, and that you will not institute legal
proceedings until"--

"The repayment of the money loaned, obviated the necessity for legal
proceedings," returned Mr. Emerson, in the same cold manner.

"The _repayment_?" exclaimed Maurice, in amazement; "what _repayment_?
what money?"

"The ten thousand dollars loaned to you by me, _somewhat rashly_, and
without examining a security which proved to be valueless."

In spite of Maurice's astonishment at this unexpected communication, the
arrow of this reproach did not miss its mark, but he only said,--

"Am I to understand that these ten thousand dollars have been repaid?"

"They were repaid about an hour ago."

"Repaid? Who could have repaid them? How is it possible?" Maurice
uttered these words to himself rather then addressed them to Mr.
Emerson.

But the latter answered briefly, "The Countess de Gramont."

"My grandmother? Impossible! It was not in her power; she knew nothing
of the transaction."

Mr. Emerson continued, without noticing this assertion,--

"A quarter of an hour ago I despatched a clerk to Brown's hotel, with a
receipt for the money."

"My grandmother!" repeated Maurice, musingly, and unable to credit the
possibility of her interference.

"You will find the information I have given you correct," said Mr.
Emerson, rising.

The hint was too marked to remain unnoticed by Maurice, in spite of his
bewilderment, and he also rose.

"If I had been aware of this fact I should not have trespassed upon your
time, sir; for, it is not difficult to perceive that you have formed an
opinion of my character which cannot readily be altered."

"I judge men by their actions rather than by their words and manners: a
very homely rule, sir, but one which is not subject to change at my time
of life."

The bow which closed this sentence was too pointedly a part