h, "will be to all of us. The things
Pappendick has seen he intensely, ineffaceably keeps in mind, to every
detail; so that he'll tell me--as no one else really can--if the Verona
man is _your_ man."

"But then," asked Mr. Bender, "we've got to believe anyway what he
says?"

"The market," said Lord John with emphasis, "would have to believe
it--that's the point."

"Oh," Hugh returned lightly, "the market will have nothing to do with
it, I hope; but I think you'll feel when he has spoken that you really
know where you are."

Mr. Bender couldn't doubt of that. "Oh, if he gives us a bigger thing we
won't complain. Only, how long will it take him to get there? I want him
to start right away."

"Well, as I'm sure he'll be deeply interested----"

"We _may_"--Mr. Bender took it straight up--"get news next week?"

Hugh addressed his reply to Lord Theign; it was already a little too
much as if he and the American between them were snatching the case from
that possessor's hands. "The day I hear from Pappendick you shall have a
full report. And," he conscientiously added, "if I'm proved to have been
unfortunately wrong----!"

His lordship easily pointed the moral. "You'll have caused me some
inconvenience."

"Of course I shall," the young man unreservedly agreed--"like a wanton
meddling ass!" His candour, his freedom had decidedly a note of their
own. "But my conviction, after those moments with your picture, was too
strong for me not to speak--and, since you allow it, I face the danger
and risk the test."

"I allow it of course in the form of business." This produced in Hugh a
certain blankness. "'Business'?" "If I consent to the inquiry I pay for
the inquiry." Hugh demurred. "Even if I turn out mistaken?" "You make me
in any event your proper charge." The young man thought again, and then
as for vague accommodation: "Oh, my charge won't be high!"

"Ah," Mr. Bender protested, "it ought to be handsome if the thing's
marked _up_!" After which he looked at his watch. "But I guess I've got
to go, Lord Theign, though your lovely old Duchess--for it's to _her_
I've lost my heart--does cry out for me again."

"You'll find her then still there," Lord John observed with emphasis,
but with his eyes for the time on Lord Theign; "and if you want another
look at her I'll presently come and take one too."

"I'll order your car to the garden-front," Lord Theign added to this;
"you'll reach it from the saloon, but I'll see you a