Once or twice she intercepted a glance passing between this superfluously handsome lady and the principal guest, until at last it occurred to her as a strange and unseemly thing that Lord Tulliwuddle should be paying so long a visit to his shooting tenants.  Eva, on her part, felt a curiously similar sensation.  These American gentlemen were as pleasant as report had painted them, but she now discovered an odd antipathy to American women, or at least to their unabashed method of making themselves agreeable to noblemen.  It confirmed, indeed, the worst reports she had heard concerning the way in which they raided the British marriage market.

Being placed beside one of these lovely girls and opposite the other, the Baron, one would think, would be in the highest state of contentment; but though still flushed with his triumphant caperings over the broadswords, and exhibiting a graciousness that charmed his hosts, he struck his observant friend as looking a trifle disturbed at soul.  He would furtively glance across the table and then as furtively throw a sidelong look at his neighbor, and each time he appeared to grow more thoughtful.  And yet he did not look precisely unhappy either.  In fact, there was a gleam in his eye during each of these glances which suggested that both fell upon something he approved of.

The after-luncheon procedure had been carefully arranged between the two adventurers.  The Count was to keep by the Baron’s side, and, thus supported, negotiations were to be delicately opened.  Accordingly, when the party rose, the Count whispered a word in Mr. Maddison’s ear.  The millionaire answered with a grave, shrewd look, and his daughter, as if perfectly grasping the situation, led the Galloshes out to inspect the new fir forest.  And then the two noblemen and the two Dariuses faced one another over their cigars.

CHAPTER XXI

“Well, gentlemen,” said Mr. Maddison, “pleasure is pleasure, and business is business.  I guess we mean to do a little of both to-day, if you are perfectly disposed.  What do you say, Count?”

“I consider that an occasion selected by you, Mr. Maddison, is not to be neglected.”

The millionaire bowed his acknowledgment of the compliment, and turned to the Baron, who, it may be remarked, was wearing an expression of thoughtful gravity not frequently to be noted at Hechnahoul.

“You desire to say a few words to me, Lord Tulliwuddle, I understand.  I shall be pleased to hear them.”

With this both father and son bent such earnest brows on the Baron and waited for his answer in such intense silence, that he began to regret the absence of his inspiring pipers.

“I vould like ze honor to address mine—­mine——­”

He threw an imploring glance at his friend, who, without hesitation, threw himself into the breach.

“Lord Tulliwuddle feels the natural diffidence of a lover in adequately expressing his sentiments.  I understand that he craves your permission to lay a certain case before a certain lady.  I am right, Tulliwuddle?”