Stella, whom they had both forgotten, intervened.
"It seems to me," she said, "that it is fortunate I have an engagement.
At eight o"clock then, Virginia."
Guy lifted his hat, and Virginia murmured something.
"It is my cousin Stella," she said. "What is it that you want to say to me, Guy?" she added, half shyly, as soon as they were alone.
"Come and get in my automobile," he said. "We will sit behind and let the man drive. Then we can talk. But the first thing I have to say to you is this: that I do not want to ask you a single question, nor am I going to permit any one else to ask you anything. Whoever you are and whatever you are, you are going to be my wife as soon as I can get another special license."
She laughed softly.
"Very well," she said, "only you must come in my automobile instead, and send yours away. If you like I will take you for a little drive."
"Just as you like," he answered, looking with some surprise at the car which stood waiting for Virginia, with its two immaculate servants. "It seems to me, dear," he added, with a note of disappointment in his tone, "that you have reached the end of your troubles without my help."
"I think I have, Guy," she answered, "but I am just as pleased to see you. Would you like to come and be introduced to my uncle and guardian?"
"Rather!" he answered.
"Back to Claridge"s," she told the footman, and they stepped inside.
"This isn"t a dream, is it?" Guy asked.
"I don"t believe so," she answered. "You will find my uncle human enough, at any rate."
CHAPTER XXIII
A DINNER PARTY
Phineas Duge in London was still a man of affairs. With a cigar in his mouth, and his hands behind his back, he was strolling about his handsomely furnished sitting-room at Claridge"s, dictating to a secretary, while from an adjoining room came the faint click of a typewriter. Virginia entered somewhat unceremoniously, followed by Guy.
Phineas Duge looked at them both in some surprise.
"Uncle," she said, "I met Guy coming away from Coniston Mansions. He was looking for me, and I have brought him to see you."
Phineas Duge held out his hand, and in obedience to a gesture, the secretary got up and left the room.
"I am very glad to meet you, sir," he said. "By the by, my niece has only mentioned your first name."
"I am the Duke of Mowbray," Guy said simply, "and I am very glad indeed to meet you if you are Virginia"s uncle. I think that she treated me rather badly a week ago, but I am disposed," he added, with a twinkle in his eyes, "to be forgiving. I want your niece to be my wife, sir."
"Indeed!" Mr. Duge answered a little drily. "I can"t say that I am glad to hear it, as I have only just discovered her myself."
"There is no reason, sir," Guy answered, "why you should lose her."
"You don"t even know my uncle"s name yet," Virginia said, smiling.
"I am Phineas Duge," Duge answered. "I dare say you have never heard of me. You see, I don"t come often to England."
"Phineas Duge!" Guy gasped. "What, you mean the--?"
"Oh, yes! there is only one of us," Duge answered, smiling. "I am glad to hear that my fame, or perhaps my infamy, has reached even you."
Guy laughed.
"I don"t think there is much question of infamy," he said. "I fancy that over here you will find yourself a very popular person indeed."
"Even," Phineas Duge answered, "although I allowed my niece to run away from home and come over here on a wild-goose chase. It was one of my mistakes, but Virginia has forgiven it. I suppose she has told you everything now."
"Everything," Guy answered, "and we should like to be married as soon as you will allow it."
"What about your people?" Duge asked.
Guy smiled.
"I fancy," he said, "that there will be no difficulty at all about that."
"You two," Phineas Duge said, "seem to have come across one another in a very unconventional manner, and yet, after all, it seems as though you were doing the thing which your people over here look upon at any rate with tolerance. I have only two girls to leave my millions to. You must send your solicitor to see me to-morrow."
"Virginia knows," Guy answered, "that I should be only too glad to have her without a sixpence."
"I myself am fond of money," Phineas Duge answered, smiling, "but I think that if I were your age I should feel very much the same."
"Uncle," Virginia said, "I have seen Mr. Vine and Stella, and I have given them your message. They are coming to dine with us at eight o"clock to-night. Couldn"t we--couldn"t--?"
Phineas Duge interrupted with a little shrug of the shoulders.
"Make it into a family party, I suppose you were going to say?" he remarked. "My niece hopes that you too will join us," he added, turning to the young man.
Guy raced back to Grosvenor Square. He found Lady Medlincourt playing bridge in the card-room.
"Aunt," he said, after having greeted her guests, "I must see you at once. Please come into the morning-room. I have something most important to say."
"If you dare to disturb me until I have finished this hand, I shall never speak to you again," she declared. "If we lose this rubber, my diamonds will have to go."
He walked about the room, trying to conceal his impatience. Fortunately Lady Medlincourt won the rubber, and having collected her winnings, she followed him into the morning-room.
"Well, Guy, what is it?" she said resentfully. "I suppose you have found that child?"
"I have not only found her," he answered, "but I have found out all about her. Do you know whose niece she is, and whom she is staying with?"
"How should I, my dear boy?" she answered.
"Her uncle is Phineas Duge," Guy said. "He has given his consent to our marriage, and told me to send my lawyer to him to-morrow."