stairs.

"An extraordinary and beautiful woman--your niece--eh, my dear
Markrute?" he heard one of the pompous gentlemen say, as he returned to
the group by the fire, and it angered him--he could not have told why.

Francis Markrute, who knew his moments, began now to talk about her,
casually; how she was an interesting, mysterious character; beautiful?
well, no, not exactly that--a superlative skin, fine eyes and hair, but
no special features.

"I will not admit that she is beautiful, my friend," he said. "Beauty
suggests gentleness and tenderness. My niece reminds me of the black
panther in the Zoo, but one could not say--if she were tamed."

Such remarks were not calculated to allay the growing interest and
attraction Lord Tancred was feeling. Francis Markrute knew his audience;
he never wasted his words. He abruptly turned the conversation back to
Canada again, until even the two magnates on their own ground were bored
and said goodnight. The four men came downstairs together. As the two
others were being assisted into their coats by Turner and his satellites
the host said to Lord Tancred:

"Will you have a cigar with me, Tancred, before you go on to your supper
party?" And presently they were both seated in mammoth armchairs in the
cozy library.

"I hope, my dear boy, you have all the information you want about
Canada," Mr. Markrute said. "You could not find two more influential
people than Sir Philip and the Colonel. I asked--" but Lord Tancred