say. I haven't the honor to be among the number."

"And I thought that possibly--just possibly--you might be predisposed in
my favor."

"A banker is never predisposed in favor of any one--not even his own
flesh and blood."

"I didn't know that," Diane persisted, bravely, "otherwise I might just
as well have gone to anybody else."

"Just as well."

"Would you like me to go now?"

The question took him by surprise, and before replying he looked at her
again with queer, bulgy eyes peering through big circular glasses, in a
way that made Diane think of an ogre in a fairy tale.

"You're not here for what I like," he said at last, "but for what you
want yourself."

"That's true," Diane admitted, ruefully, "but I might go away. I _will_
go away, if you say so."

"You'll please yourself. I didn't send for you, and I'll not tell you to
go. How old are you?"

It was Diane's turn to be surprised, but she brought out her age
promptly.

"Twenty-four."

"You look older."

"That's because I've had so much trouble, perhaps. It's because we're in
trouble that I've come to you, Mr. van Tromp."

"I dare say. I didn't suppose you'd come to ask me to dinner. There are
not many days go by without some one expecting me to pull him out of the
scrape he would never have got into if it hadn't been for his own
fault."

"I'm afraid that's very like my case."

"It's like a good many cases. You're no exception to the rule."

"And what do you do at such times, if I may ask?"

"You may ask, but I'll not tell you. You're here on your own business, I
presume, and not on mine."

"I thought that perhaps you'd be good enough to make mine yours. Though
we've never met, I have seen you at various times, and it always seemed
to me that you looked kind; and so--"

"Stop right there, ma'am!" he cried, putting up a warning hand. "'Most
important business,' was what you said in your note, otherwise I
shouldn't have consented to see you. If you have any business, state it,
and I'll say yes or no, as it strikes me. But I'll tell you beforehand
that there isn't a chance in a thousand but what it'll be no."

"I did come because I thought you looked kind," Diane declared,
indignantly, "and if you think it was for any other reason whatever,
you're absolutely mistaken."

"Then we'll let it be. I can't help my looks, nor what you think about
them. The point is that you're here for something; so let's know what it
is."

"You make it very