"You are a very rich man, you say?"

"Very rich--a millionaire--and you shall be my heiress when I die."

"I am afraid I shall be a very long time out of my inheritance, then.
Well, this is a surprise, and you are the oddest gentleman I have met
for some time. Please let me catch my breath! You are quite certain you
are not playing a practical joke at my expense all this time?"

"No! upon my word and honor, no! I mean precisely what I say."

"And supposing I say yes--supposing I agree to go with you, for the fun
of the thing, what do you mean to do with me, Mr. Walraven?"

"To treat you as I would a Miss Walraven of seventeen years old, if
there were such a person; to fill your pockets with money, and your
wardrobe with fine clothes; to give you a horse to ride, and a piano to
play, a carriage to drive in, and a waiting-maid to scold. What more can
I do? I will give you masters to teach you everything under the sun.
Balls, parties, and the opera at will--everything, in short, your heart
can desire."

The starry eyes sparkled, the rose-tinted cheeks flushed with delight.

"I can not believe it; it is too good to be true. Oh, you can't mean it,
Mr. Walraven. No one ever had their wildest flight of fancy realized in
this manner."

"You shall if you will become my daughter. If my promise proves false,