"And I, sir, could desire nothing in life more!"
Those brilliant eyes met his. "What!—nothing! No fair lady in the question, to carry off your more ardent longings!"
Ivor's bronzed cheek took a slightly deeper dye, though he answered decisively—"You know me well enough, sir, to believe that no claim in all the world could come before that."
The radiant smile would have been answer enough, without words.
"I do know you well enough. None the less, if I be not greatly mistaken, you will have somewhat to tell me by and by."
"Yes, sir. Miss Keene and I are engaged."
"Already! You have been expeditious. But I suspected as much, and you have my most hearty congratulations. And still you go to Paris! For how long?"
"At the most a fortnight, sir. It may be less."
"That is well. No saying how soon troubles may break out. Good-bye, for the moment. I shall see you in a few weeks; and what may have happened before then, in these tempestuous days, he would be a rash man that should foretell with confidence."
With a markedly kind and cordial farewell the speaker passed on, Roy saying eagerly, so soon as he was beyond ear-shot—