The banker nodded intelligently.  And they gave their attention to the game.

And the two young people seemed to find inexhaustible interest in the volume they were bending over.

It was eleven o’clock before the young marquis arose to take leave.

“I have asked Miss Levison to ride with me in the Park to-morrow, and she has kindly consented—­with your approbation, Sir Lemuel,” said the young man.

“Certainly, Mr. Scott.  I consider horseback riding one of the most healthful of exercises,” said the banker, heartily.

The young marquis then bowed and took his leave.

Lady Belgrade gathered up her embroidery work and bade them good-night.

“My girl, what do you think of Mr. Scott?” asked the banker, when he was left alone with his daughter.

“Oh, papa,” she breathed in an embarrassed manner.

“Do you know who he really is, my dear?”

“Yes, papa, I knew him when I first met him at the Premier’s dinner.  I knew him by his portrait that I saw at Castle Lone!”

“Oh, you did!” said the banker, musing.

His daughter looked at him for a moment, and then suddenly threw herself into his arms, clasped his neck and kissed him fervently, exclaiming, with her face radiant with delight: 

“Oh, papa! this is all your doing!  I understand it all, dear papa!  Bless you! bless you! bless you, my own, own dear papa!  You have made your child so happy!”

CHAPTER V.

ARONDELLE’S CONSOLATION.

On the next day, at the appointed hour, Salome came down to the drawing-room dressed for her ride.

She wore a rich habit of dark blue summer-cloth, fastened with small gold buttons, fine, tiny white linen cuffs and collar, dark blue gloves, dark blue velvet hat with a short, white ostrich plume secured by a small gold butterfly, and she carried in her hand a slender ivory-handled riding-whip, set with a sapphire.  Her dress was neat, elegant, and appropriate; and her face was for the moment radiant and beautiful from inward joy.

In due time, the young marquis presented himself, and the lovers went forth for their ride.

It is not necessary to linger over this courtship, in which “the course of true love” ran so smooth as to seem monotonous to all but the lovers themselves.

The ride was followed by the small dinner party.  And after that the young marquis became a daily visitor at Elmthorpe House, where he was ever received with fatherly affection by Sir Lemuel, and with subdued delight by Salome.

The lovers had come to a mutual understanding for days before the marquis made a formal proposal for Miss Levison’s hand.

But it happened one evening that they found themselves alone in the drawing-room.  They were seated at a table, loaded with books of engravings, photographs, and so forth.