with the appearance of Miss Gallosh. Much as she had desired a
confidante, she had never demanded one so remarkably beautiful, and she
could not but feel that a very much plainer friend would have served her
purpose quite as well--and indeed better. Once or twice she intercepted
a glance passing between this superfluously handsome lady and the
principal guest, until at last it occurred to her as a strange and
unseemly thing that Lord Tulliwuddle should be paying so long a visit
to his shooting tenants. Eva, on her part, felt a curiously similar
sensation. These American gentlemen were as pleasant as report had
painted them, but she now discovered an odd antipathy to American women,
or at least to their unabashed method of making themselves agreeable
to noblemen. It confirmed, indeed, the worst reports she had heard
concerning the way in which they raided the British marriage market.

Being placed beside one of these lovely girls and opposite the
other, the Baron, one would think, would be in the highest state of
contentment; but though still flushed with his triumphant caperings over
the broadswords, and exhibiting a graciousness that charmed his hosts,
he struck his observant friend as looking a trifle disturbed at soul.
He would furtively glance across the table and then as furtively throw
a sidelong look at his neighbor, and each time he appeared to grow more
thoughtful. And yet he did not look precisely unhappy either. In
fact, there was a gleam in his eye during each of these glances which
suggested that both fell upon something he approved of.

The after-luncheon procedure had been carefully arranged between the
two adventurers. The Count was to keep by the Baron's side, and, thus
supported, negotiations were to be delicately opened. Accordingly, when
the party rose, the Count whispered a word in Mr. Maddison's ear. The
millionaire answered with a grave, shrewd look, and his daughter, as if
perfectly grasping the situation, led the Galloshes out to inspect the
new fir forest. And then the two noblemen and the two Dariuses faced one
another over their cigars.

CHAPTER XXI

"Well, gentlemen," said Mr. Maddison, "pleasure is pleasure, and
business is business. I guess we mean to do a little of both to-day, if
you are perfectly disposed. What do you say, Count?"

"I consider that an occasion selected by you, Mr. Maddison, is not to be
neglected."

The millionaire bowed his acknowledgment of the compliment,