spirited. That they were well known to many of the diners in those
days at Sherry's was at once apparent; they were bowing right and
left to near-by acquaintances. After much ado they finally relapsed
into the chairs obsequiously drawn back for them and the buzz of
conversation throughout the place was resumed.

Graydon, lowering his voice, named the newcomers to Jane, who looked
at them with fresh interest. The names were well known to New York
and European society. For the moment Elias Droom was unnoticed. He
took the opportunity to collect his nerves and to subdue his too
apparent emotion. Jane was recalled from her polite scrutiny of the
women at the next table by hearing her name mentioned in Droom's
hoarsest voice, modified into something like a whisper.

"Miss Cable, I not only asked you to come here in order to tell
you the name of your father, but to point him out to you."

There was an instant of breathless silence at the table. So
startling was his announcement that every other sound in the room
escaped the ears of his two listeners.

"There was a new hundred dollar bill found in the basket with you.
Your grandfather's signature was on that bill. He was the president
of the bank which issued it. Your mother was--" Here he leaned
forward and whispered a name that fairly stunned his hearers.
Graydon caught his breath and a new light appeared in his eyes.
He was beginning to believe that the old man's brain was affected.
Jane leaned forward in her chair, an incredulous smile on her lips.

"Don't jest, Elias," began Graydon, somewhat roughly.