no purport was,
of course, named, but Mrs. Leslie was probably aware that her good
word with her friend was expected. "I only know what I used to hear
from Mrs. Roby," Mrs. Leslie said to her friend. "He was mixed up
with Hunkey's people, who roll in money; Old Wharton wouldn't have
given him his daughter if he had not been doing well."

"It's very hard to be sure," said Lizzie Eustace.

"He looks like a man who'd know how to feather his own nest," said
Mrs. Leslie. "Don't you think he's very handsome?"

"I don't know that he's likely to do the better for that."

"Well; no; but there are men of whom you are sure, when you look at
them, that they'll be successful. I don't suppose he was anything to
begin with, but see where he is now!"

"I believe you are in love with him, my dear," said Lizzie Eustace.

"Not exactly. I don't know that he has given me any provocation. But
I don't see why a woman shouldn't be in love with him if she likes.
He is a deal nicer than those fair-haired men who haven't got a
word to say to you, and yet look as though you ought to jump down
their mouths;--like that fellow you were trying to talk to last
night;--that Mr. Fletcher. He could just jerk out three words at a
time, and yet he was proud as Lucifer. I like a man who if he likes
me is neither ashamed nor afraid to say so."

"There is a romance there, you know. Mr. Fletcher was in love with
Emily Wharton, and she threw him over for Lopez. They say he has not
held up his head since."

"She was quite right," said Mrs. Leslie. "But she is one of those
stiff-necked creatures who are set up with pride though they have
nothing to be proud of. I suppose she had a lot of money. Lopez would
never have taken her without."

When, therefore, Lopez called one day at the little house in the
little street he was not an unwelcome visitor. Mrs. Leslie was in
the drawing-room, but soon left it after his arrival. He had of late
been often there, and when he at once introduced the subject on which
he was himself intent it was not unexpected. "Seven thousand five
hundred pounds!" said Lizzie, after listening to the proposition
which he had come to make. "That is a very large sum of money!"

"Yes;--it's a large sum of money. It's a large affair. I'm in it to
rather more than that, I believe."

"How are you to get people to drink it?" she asked after a pause.

"By telling them that they ought to drink it. Advertise it. It has
become a certainty n