she answered simply.

"I have been told," he said, "that you have given up these things to
live your life differently. That you choose to be a worker. You have
rich relations--you could be rich yourself!"

She looked him steadily in the face.

"You are wrong," she said, "I have no money. I have not chosen a
profession willingly--only because I am poor!"

"Ah!"

The monosyllable was mysterious to her. But for the wild improbability
of the thing she would have wondered whether indeed he knew her secret.
She brushed the idea away. It was impossible.

"At least," he said, "you belong to these people."

"Yes," she answered, "I am one of the poor young women of society."

"And you would like," he continued, "to be one of the rich ones--to take
your place amongst them on equal terms. That is what you are looking
forward to in life!"

She laughed gaily.

"Of course I am! If there was the least little chance of it I should be
delighted. You mustn't think that I'm different from other girls in that
respect because I'm more independent. In this country there's only one
way of enjoying life thoroughly, and that you will find out for yourself
very soon."

He rose and held out his hand.

"Thank you very much," he said, "for letting me come. May I--"

"You may come," she said quietly, "as often as you like."

CHAPTER XXII

"Mr. Scarlett Trent, the Gold King, left for Africa on Thursday last on
the Dunottar Castle, to pay a brief visit to his wonderful possessions
there before the great Bekwando Mining and Exploration Company is
offered to the public. Mr. Trent is already a millionaire, and should he
succeed in floating the Company on the basis of the Prospectus, he will
be a multi-millionaire, and certainly one of the richest of Englishmen.
During his absence workmen are to be kept going night and day at
his wonderful palace in Park Lane, which he hopes to find ready for
occupation on his return. Mr. Trent's long list of financial successes
are too well known to be given here, but who will grudge wealth to a
man who is capable of spending it in such a lordly fashion? We wish Mr.
Trent a safe voyage and a speedy return."

The paper slipped from his fingers and he looked thoughtfully out
seaward. It was only one paragraph of many, and the tone of all was the
same. Ernestine's words had come true--he was already a man of note. A
few months had changed his life in the most amazing way--when he looked
back upon