"Oh! quite," said Bradley.

They had reached the low Norman-arched side-entrance to the quadrangle.
As Bradley swung open the bolt-studded oaken door to let her pass, she
said carelessly,--

"Then you are not coming in now?"

"No; I shall walk a little longer."

"And I am quite forgiven?"

"I am thanking you very much," he said, smiling directly into her blue
eyes. She lowered them, and vanished into the darkness of the passage.

The news of Minty's success was further corroborated by Sir Robert,
who later that evening called Bradley into the study. "Frank has been
writing from Nice that he has renewed his acquaintance with some old
Californian friends of yours--a Mr. and Miss Sharpe. Lady Canterbridge
says that they are well known in London to some of our friends, but I
would like to ask you something about them. Lady Mainwaring was on the
point of inviting them here when I received a letter from Mr. Sharpe
asking for a BUSINESS interview. Pray who is this Sharpe?"

"You say he writes for a BUSINESS interview?" asked Bradley.

"Yes."

Bradley hesitated for a moment and then said quietly, "Perhaps, then, I