Sir Eustace glanced at him. "I thought the affair was settled," he said.

Bottles rubbed his big nose reflectively as he answered, "Well, no.
I don't think that marriage was mentioned. But I suppose she means to
marry me. In short, I don't see how she could mean anything else."

Sir Eustace breathed more freely, guessing what had taken place. So
there was as yet no actual engagement.

"When are you going to see her again?"

"To-morrow. She is engaged all to-day."

His brother took out a pocket-book and consulted it. "Then I am more
fortunate than you are," he said; "I have an appointment with Lady
Croston this evening after dinner. Don't look jealous, old fellow, it is
only about some executor's business. I think I told you that I am one
of her husband's executors, blessings on his memory. She is a peculiar
woman, your _inamorata_, and swears that she won't trust her lawyers, so
I have to do all the dirty work myself, worse luck. You had better come
too."

"Shan't I be in the way?" asked Bottles doubtfully, struggling feebly
against the bribe.

"It is evident, my dear fellow, that you cannot be _de trop_. I shall
present my papers for signature and vanish. You ought to be infinitely
obliged to me for giving you such a chance. We will consider that
settled. We will dine together, and go round to Grosvenor Street