In Friendship's Guise

seeing the Prince drive out. The rival establishment was the shop of Lamb and Drummond, picture dealers and engravers to Her Majesty. Since nine o'clock that morning, i

phs in reference to the coming exhibition. Rembrandts are by no means uncommon, nor do all command high prices; but this particular

ich, strong coloring, the permanency of the pigments, and the powerful, ferocious head, either Russian or Polish, that seemed to fairly stand ou

ne had brought him to town, and, having read the papers, he had walked from the Strand over to Pall Mall. Memories of his Paris l

with old Von Whele looking over my shoulder and puffing the smoke of Dutch tobacco into my eyes! I was sorry to read of his death, and the sale of his collection. He was

s face. Then he looked at his watch-the time was half-past five-and cutting across into the park he walked briskly to St. James' Park station. The train that he wanted was announced, and when it came in he watched the row of carriages as they flashed by him. He entered a first-class smoker, and nodded to Stephen Foster. The two were n

period, with its big square windows, and the unique fanlight over the door. Directly opposite the entrance, across the strip of paved quay, was a sort of a water-gate leading down to the sedgy shore of the Thame

ook. She kissed her father, and gave a hand reluctantly to Nevill, whom she addressed as Mr. Royle. She resumed her

d ceremony, and the courses were well served and admirably cooked; the wine came from a carefully selected cellar, and was beyond reproach.

use me, father?" she said.

Miss Foster," Nevill replied. "Your co

id Stephen Foster. "Come, Royle; my

books and furnished with rare engravings and Persian rugs. Stephen Foster lighted the incandescent gas-lamp on the big table, drew the window curtains together

elf," he said. "Or is it

where Madge was at the piano, singing an old English ballad. He hesitated for a moment, a

overheard or disturbed. You intimated that you had something p

er we left the train. It i

him, and as he went on with his revelation he spoke in

s about it," he wou

ied Steph

ed back and confronted Nevill; there was a look on his fac

manded, coldly. "Do I understand that you l

ve known that I loved her-you cannot hav

blind, Nevill, I fear. H

ver had a

ourself a suitable

posed now. "If you are good enough to be her

desk or my ledgers, I am another person at home. Sneer if you like, it is true. I love my daughter-the child of my dead wife. She does not know what I do in town-you are

evill, trying to

ion-the fact that you have been

and lasting affection. I might choose a wife in higher places, but Madge has enslaved me with her sweet face and charming disposition. As for our relations-you know what poverty drove me to. Given a secure income, and I should never have stooped to dishonor. The need of money stifled the best that w

he loved Madge with a passion that dominated him, and he knew his own unworth

her married to some poor but honest clerk." He lighted a c

ght flashed in

nd in the words there was a hidden m

echoed. "You hav

, but I hope

ou expect

power. Give m

force her into such a step against her wishes. If

t keep other admirers away from the girl, and there is

do you

uaintance with the chap who pulled her

ible, N

know who the man is? It is none ot

Jack Vernon!

. I did not te

to the fellow, and told Madge to get his address from the

have some scruples. It i

en Foster. "Yes, I should have hesitated. But are

s I was driving to the Star and Garter. They were together in a trap, go

ed toward the door; his face

vill. "What are

hoarse reply. "I'll t