‘They must be very hard up,’ said Lord Nidderdale.  ’But I shall do it.  Cantrip is always at me to do something, and you see if I don’t butter them up properly.’  Then having fortified himself with game-pie and a glass of brown sherry he went away at once to the Treasury Chambers.

Silverbridge felt himself a little better after his lunch,—­better still when he had smoked a couple of cigarettes walking about the empty smoking-room.  And as he walked he collected his thoughts.  She could hardly have meant to slight him.  No doubt her letter down to him at Harrington had been very cold.  No doubt he had been ill-treated in being sent away so unceremoniously from the door.  But yet she could hardly intend that everything between them should be over.  Even an American girl could not be so unreasonable as that.  He remembered the passionate way in which she had assured him of her love.  All that could not have been forgotten!  He had done nothing by which he could have forfeited her esteem.  She had desired him to tell the whole affair to her father, and he had done so.  Mr Boncassen might perhaps have objected.  It might be that this American was so prejudiced against the English aristocrats as to desire no commerce with them.  There were not many Englishmen who would not have welcomed him as a son-in-law, but Americans might be different.  Still,—­still Isabel would hardly have shown her obedience to her father in this way.  She was too independent to obey her father in a matter concerning her own heart.  And if he had not been the possessor of her heart at that last interview, then she must have been false indeed!  So he got once more into his hansom and had himself taken back to Brook Street.

Mrs Boncassen was in the drawing-room alone.

‘I am so sorry,’ said the lady, ’but Mr Boncassen has, I think, just gone out.’

‘Indeed! and where is Isabel?’

’Isabel is downstairs,—­that is if she hasn’t gone out too.  She did talk of going with her father to the Museum.  She is getting quite bookish.  She has got a ticket, and goes there, and has all the things brought to her just like the other learned folk.’

‘I am anxious to see her, Mrs Boncassen.’

’My!  If she has gone out it will be a pity.  She was only saying yesterday she wouldn’t wonder if you shouldn’t turn up.’

‘Of course I’ve turned up, Mrs Boncassen.  I was here an hour ago.’

’Was it you who called and asked all them questions?  My!  We couldn’t make out who it was.  The man said it was a flurried young gentleman who wouldn’t leave a card,—­but who wanted to see Mr Boncassen most special.’

’It was Isabel I wanted to see.  Didn’t I leave a card?  No; I don’t think I did.  I felt so—­almost at home, that I didn’t think of a card.’

‘That’s very kind of you, Lord Silverbridge.’

‘I hope you are going to be my friend, Mrs Boncassen.’