sir, if I don't get an
answer to my next question--my hands are itching to be at you, they are!
When is Amelius expected back?"

"Your question is positive, sir," said Toff, with dignity. "I am happy
to be able to meet it with a positive reply. My master is expected back
in three weeks' time."

Having obtained some information at last, Rufus debated with himself
what he should do next. He decided that "the boy was worth waiting for,"
and that his wisest course (as a good American) would be to go back, and
wait in Paris.

Passing through the Garden of the Tuileries, two or three days later,
and crossing to the Rue de Rivoli, the name of one of the hotels in
that quarter reminded him of Regina. He yielded to the prompting of
curiosity, and inquired if Mr. Farnaby and his niece were still in
Paris.

The manager of the hotel was in the porter's lodge at the time. So far
as he knew, he said, Mr. Farnaby and his niece, and an English gentleman
with them, were now on their travels. They had left the hotel with an
appearance of mystery. The courier had been discharged; and the coachman
of the hired carriage which took them away had been told to drive
straight forward until further orders. In short, as the manager put it,
the departure resembled a flight. Remembering what his American agent
had told him, Rufus received this information without surprise. Even the
apparently incomprehensible devotion of Mr. Melton to the interests of
such a man as Farnaby, failed to present itself to him as a perplexing
circumstance. To his mind, Mr. Melton's conduct was plainly attributable
to a reward in prospect; and the name of that reward was--Miss Regina.

At the end of the three weeks, Rufus returned to London.

Once again, he and Toff confronted each other on the threshold of the
door. This time, the genial old man presented an appearance that was
little less than dazzling. From head to foot he was arrayed in new
clothes; and he exhibited an immense rosette of white ribbon in his
button-hole.

"Thunder!" cried Rufus. "Here's Mr. Frenchman going to be married!"

Toff declined to humour the joke. He stood on his dignity as stiffly as
ever. "Pardon me, sir, I possess a wife and family already."

"Do you, now? Well--none of your know-nothing answers this time. Has
Amelius come back?"

"Yes, sir."

"And what's the news of Sally?"

"Good news, sir. Miss Sally has come back too."

"You call that good news, do you? I'll say a word