, to please my bride, (who is devoted
to her mother), I intend to make my home in Paris, I have made
arrangements for you to take that post now, if you will.

"'Shortly after this epistle a formal note will reach you,
explaining all details. You will, I am sure, not refuse me the
great pleasure of smoothing a little your path, under the present
circumstances--since it is a very dear wish of mine to see you and
Miss Sylvia happy.

"'I foresee no obstacles now to your wishes. Explain to Sir James
that I intend to be your best friend, and shall be able, no doubt,
to be of great assistance to you if you adopt this career.

"'At some future date I hope to present to you Mademoiselle de
Beaugarde--and looking forward to your reply, I remain,

"'My dear Woodville,

"'Yours, with a thousand good wishes,

"'G. RIDOKANAKI.

"'P.S.--I should have written at greater length, but I am expecting
Madame Beaugarde and her daughter, as I am to escort them to see
some pictures. You will, therefore, grant me your indulgence for
the bold, almost abrupt way in which I have conveyed to you my
news. You will make excuses for the happy lover! She has an oval
face, with a peach-like complexion. Her eyes resemble sapphires:
her teeth are like pearls. Let me hear from you soon.'"

"Now, isn't he a wonderful chap?" asked Woodville. "And the best fellow
in the world. I always liked him. How gifted he is! He describes people
in detail, and by the yard, without giving one the very slightest idea
of their appearance. He has a real genius for platitudes."

"And what an original description! Peach cheeks and sapphire eyes! Fruit
and jewellery! But I daresay she's a dear, and I forgive him now. And
Frank, _do_ you realise what this means--to us?"

"I've been realising it since the first post this morning, Sylvia."

"You'll accept it?"

"Naturally. Everything is right, as you said it would be. We'll tell Sir
James to-day."

"Look here, darling Frank, let me ring up a messenger to send a wire at
_once_ to accept, so that nothing can come between us!"

"Not just yet," said Woodville.

* * * * *

Savile's only comment when they told him was, "Just like that rotter to
prefer another alien!" and he immediately wrote brief notes