Polly tossed her head and shuffled her feet, well pleased with the men’s laughter.

“And if it comes to that,” Greenacre pursued, “I don’t mind saying, Gammon, that I suspect you to be a confoundedly lucky and enviable dog.  May I congratulate him, Miss Sparkes?”

“Oh, you can if you like, Mr.—­I forget your name.”

“I do so then, Gammon.  I congratulate you, and I envy you.  Heigh-ho!  I’m a lonely bachelor myself, Miss Sparkes—­no, hang it, Miss Polly.  You may well look pityingly at me.”

“I’m sure I don’t, Mr.—­I can’t remember your name,” answered Polly with a delighted giggle.

“See here, Greenacre,” Gammon interposed genially, “Miss Sparkes and I will have to talk this over.  Mind you, I give no promise.  I found out for myself who Mr. Clover was, and I hold myself free to do what I think fit.  You quite understand?”

Greenacre nodded absently.  Then he cleared his throat.

“I quite understand, my dear boy.  I should like just to remind you that there’s really nothing to be gained, one way or the other, by interfering with Lord Polperro before he has made his plans.  The ladies would in no way be benefited, and it’s very certain no one else would be.  No doubt you’ll bear that in mind.”

“Of course I shall.  You may take it from me, Greenacre, that I’m tolerably wide awake.  Can I still address you at the Bilboes?”

“You can,” was the grave and dignified reply.  “And now, as I happen to have an appointment at the other end of the town, I really must say good-bye.  I repeat, Miss Sparkes, you may trust me absolutely.  I have your interests and those of my friend Gammon—­the same thing now—­thoroughly at heart.  You will hear from his lordship, Miss Sparkes—­no, hang it, Miss Polly.  You will very soon have a line from his lordship, who, I may venture to say, is really attached to you.  He speaks of you all most touchingly.  Good evening, Miss Polly, not good-bye; we are to meet again very soon.  And who knows all the happy changes that are before you.  Ta-ta, Gammon.  Rely upon me; I never failed a friend yet.”

So saying he took his leave with bows and flourishes.  Shortly after Polly and Gammon went into the superior room of the tavern and had tea together, talking at a great rate, one as excited as the other.  Miss Sparkes being already attired for her evening duties they parted only when they were obliged to do so, agreeing to meet again when Polly left the theatre.

To pass this interval of time Mr. Gammon dropped into a music-hall.  He wished to meditate on what had come to his knowledge.  Had it not been that Lord Polperro was, in a sense, a public institution, and could not escape him, he would have felt uneasy about the doings of that remarkable fellow Greenacre; as it was, he preferred to muse on the advantages certain to befall Minnie and her mother, and perchance Polly Sparkes.  After all, the niece of a lord must benefit