They had scarcely finished when there was a knock at the door, and Florou came in with a note for Mr. Liakos.

Mr. Plateas rose, napkin in hand, and leaned over his friend’s chair, eagerly following the words as the judge read aloud: 

“My dear cousin,—­Bring your friend to my house this evening; the young lady will be there.  Come early.  Your cousin.”

“What did I tell you!” cried Mr. Liakos, joyfully.  “Come, you must get ready.”

Mr. Plateas looked very serious; the idea of meeting the young girl made him nervous.  What should he say to her?  How should he behave?  Besides, he was not yet sure of being accepted!  Why hadn’t the message been a plain “yes” or “no”?  The judge had difficulty in persuading Mr. Plateas that the invitation was in itself an assurance of success, and that his cousin and he would do their best to lessen the embarrassment of the meeting.  Taking upon himself the duties of valet, Mr. Liakos superintended the poor man’s toilet, and having made him look as fine as possible, marched him off.

He would have given almost anything to be well out of the scrape, but it was too late to retreat now.

As they went along, the judge tried in vain to impart some of his own high spirits to his faint-hearted friend.  He was brimming over with gladness at the thought of his marriage, which now seemed assured.  After so long a separation he was about to see his betrothed, for he felt sore that she would come with her sister.  Mr. Plateas had no such reasons for rejoicing.  He walked on in silence, paying little heed to his friend’s gay sallies; he was trying to think what he should say to the young lady, but nothing came to him.

“By the way,” he broke in suddenly, “what is her name?”

“Whose?”

“I mean my future wife.  Yesterday I had to let her father see that I didn’t even know her name.  I mustn’t make that mistake to-night!”

At this Mr. Liakos broke into a merry laugh; he was in such high good-humor that he found fun in everything.  His companion did not laugh, but repeated: 

“What is her name?”

The judge was about to reply when he heard some one coming toward them call out in the darkness: 

“Liakos, is that you?”

It was his cousin’s husband, who brought word that he was not to be present at the interview.  The tactful cousin had felt that it would be better to leave the young lady alone with her suitor; then, too, the younger sister would not come, and the presence of Mr. Liakos was quite unnecessary; her instructions were that he should spend the evening with her husband at the club.

Mr. Plateas felt his knees give way under him.  What—­go in and face the two ladies all alone!  No, decidedly he hadn’t the courage for that.  But his supporters, one on either side, urged and encouraged the unhappy man until they reached the threshold, when the door opened and they pushed him in, regardless of his protests, then closed it again, and went off to the club.