"But where did she come from? What the--Oh! I have no patience with you,
you old fool! You are playing some comedy upon me!"

"Henry, I give you my word, I'm not--I am going to marry a most
presentable young person at nine o'clock on Thursday night in the chapel
here--and you are going to stay and be best man." Then his excitement
began to rise again, and he got up from his chair and paced up and down
restlessly. "It is the very thing. She wants her money and I want my
freedom. She gets hers by marriage, and I get mine. I don't care a rush
for domestic bliss, it has never appealed to me; and the fellow in
Australia who'll come after me has got a boy who will do all right, no
doubt, for the old place by and by. I shall have a perfectly free time
and no responsibilities--and, thank the Lord! no more women for me for
the future. I have done with the snakes. I shall be happy and free for
the first time for a whole year!"

Mr. Fordyce actually let his cigar go out. This incredible story was
beginning to have an effect upon him.

"But where did she come from?" he asked blandly, as one speaks to a
harmless imbecile. "I leave you here in an abject state of despair,
ready almost to decide upon marrying old Bessie, and I return in an hour
and you inform me everything is settled, and you are the fiancé of
another lady! You know, you surprise me, Michael--'Pon my word, you do!"

Michael laughed, it was really a huge joke.

"Yes, it is quite true. Well, just as I was going to ring and send
James for Bessie to talk it over with her, there was no end of a
smash--as you see--and a girl--a tourist--fell through the secret door.