the listener, intensified, like a flying cloud darkening one spot now
and another a moment later.

"Return the card, and say I am engaged," she said haughtily. "Stay,"
she added thoughtfully. "Perhaps he wished to see papa, or there is
some important business matter which needs immediate attention. If
not, dismiss him," and Edith returned to the library quite as much
puzzled as Hannibal had been. Two or three times recently she had
found Mr. Fox's card on returning from evenings out. Why had he
called? She had only a cool, bowing acquaintance with him, formed by
his coming occasionally to see her father on business, and her father
had not thought it worth while to formally introduce Mr. Fox to any of
his family at such times, but had treated him as a sort of upper
servant. Her certainly was putting on strange airs, as her old grand-
vizier had intimated. But in the game of cards, and her other little
game with Grus, she soon forgot his existence.

Meantime Hannibal, reassured, was regal again, and marched down the
marble hall with something like the feeling and bearing of his great
namesake. If there were a web here, the Allens were not spinning it,
and he owed. Mr. Fox nothing but a slight grudge for his "airs."

Therefore with the manner of one feeling himself master of the
situation he said:

"Hab you a message for Mr. Allen?"

"No," replied Mr. Fox quietly.

"Den I tell you again Miss Edith _am_ engaged."