w.

"To buy you all the pretty things you've ever wished for."

The girl laughed. "To do that would cost a fortune!"

"Then we'll spend a fortune. Shall you and I do it ourselves, or would
you like to have the Countess de Santiago's taste?"

"Oh, let us go without her," Annesley exclaimed, "unless you----"

"Rather _not_. I want you to myself. You darling! We'll have a great
day--spending that fortune. The next thing we do--it can wait till
after we're married--is to look for a house in a good neighbourhood,
to rent furnished. But we'll get your swell cousins, Lord and Lady
Annesley-Seton, to help us choose. Perhaps there'll be something near
them."

"Why, they hardly know I exist! I doubt if Lady Annesley-Seton _does_
know," replied the girl. "They'll do nothing to help us, I'm sure."

"Then _don't_ be sure, because if you made a bet you'd lose. Take
my word, they'll be pleased to remember a cousin who is marrying a
millionaire."

"Good gracious!" gasped Annesley. "_Are_ you a millionaire?"

Her lover laughed. "Well, I don't want to boast to you, though I may
to your cousins, but if I'm not one of your conventional, stodgy
millionaires, I have a sort of Fortunatus purse which is never empty.
I can always pull out whatever I want. We'll let your people understand
without any bragging.

"I think Lady Annesley-Seton, _nee_ Miss Haverstall, whose father's purse
has flattened out like a pancake, will jump for joy when she hears what
you want her to do. But come along, let's have breakfast!"

Overwhelmed, Annesley walked beside him in silence to the almost deserted
restaurant where the latest breakfasters had finished and the earliest
lunchers had not begun.

So the mysterious Mr. Smith was rich. The news frightened rather
than pleased her. It seemed to throw a burden upon her shoulders which
she might not be able to carry with grace. The girl had little
self-confidence; but the man appeared to be troubled with no doubts of
her or of the future. Over their coffee and toast and hot-house fruit, he
began to propose exciting plans, and had got as far as an automobile when
the voice of the Countess surprised them.

She had come close to their table without being heard.

"Good morning!" she exclaimed. "I was going out, but from far off I saw
you two, with your profiles cut like silhouettes against all this glass
and sunshine. I couldn't resist asking how Miss Grayle slept, and if
there's anything I can do for her