Mr.
Fopling. Bess reported Dorothy's spirits as improved; those rays of
comfort emanating from Richard's promises had put a color in her cheek.

"The promises have been redeemed," observed Richard, "and I came to tell
you first of all--you who have been our truest friend," and here, to the
utter outrage of Mr. Fopling's sensibilities, Richard kissed Bess's
yellow hair.

"Oh, I say, Stawms!" squeaked Mr. Fopling reproachfully.

"Mistake, I assure you!" said Richard, again giving Mr. Fopling his
hand.

"Well, please don't wepeat it!" returned Mr. Fopling a bit sulkily. "It
gives me a most beastly sensation, don't y' know, to see a chap
cawessing Bess; it does, weally!"

"Hush, child!" said Bess; "you excite yourself about nothing."

Bess was for having Dorothy over on the strength of the good news, but
Richard was against it, proudly.

"No," said he. "With Storri's hold upon him, Mr. Harley asked me to stay
away from his house. Now Storri's hold is broken, I shall give him a
chance to ask me to return."

"Oh, I see," replied Bess teasingly. "Sir Launcelot having done a
knightly deed and rescued a fair damsel, and the fair damsel's family,
from a dragon, will give his vanity an outing."

"Only till to-morrow evening!" protested Richard, humbled from the high
horse. "If Mr. Harley doesn't invite me by that time, I'll invite
myself."

"If Mr. Harley doesn't invite you by that time," returned Bess, "I will
interfere. Those who can't see their duty must be shown their duty, Mr.
Harley among the rest. On the whole, I think you take a very proper
stand."

* * * * *

Storri, without a dollar, lay in his rooms like a wounded wolf. He did
not go to the San Reve; he would see no one until he had worn down his
anguish and regained control of himself. Hurt to the death, Storri was
too cunning to furnish word of it to mankind. No one must know; it was
the instinct of self-preservation. The wounded wolf, while his wounds
are fresh, avoids the pack lest the pack destroy him. And so with
Storri; he would hide until he could command that old-time manner of
unclouded ease. He would stifle every surmise, deny every rumor if rumor
blew about, of the blow he had received. A few days, and Storri would be
himself again. As for immediate money, Storri would extort that from Mr.
Harley, who, in his dull-head ignorance or worse, had been the author of
his losses. Who first spoke of Northern Consolidat