“There!” he said, pushing it from him, folding his arms, and looking down at Spenser Churchill with an almost defiant light in his dark eyes. “And now what next? I am all attention! Who and where is my future bride, and when shall I see her?”
“Her name is Doris Marlowe,” said Spenser Churchill, softly, writing the name in the blank left for the purpose as he spoke. “She is at present acting as companion to Lady Despard, and you shall see her in a day or two.”
“Doris Marlowe!” repeated Percy Levant. “Doris Marlowe; it sounds pretty, ‘but a rose by any other name,’ etc.; and she is acting as companion to Lady Despard, is she? And has no suspicion of the wealth that will be hers? Churchill, are you sure that this is not a fiction born of your too fertile imagination?”
“You will see in a day or two,” said Spenser Churchill.
“It is really genuine? And what is the plan to be adopted? You will, I suppose, introduce me as a prince traveling incog., a millionaire in embryo, a something brilliant enough to dazzle the eyes of the young lady and carry her fancy captive? Is this to be the line?”
The philanthropist shook his head with an indulgent smile.
“No, my dear Percy; I’m free to admit that that is the kind of thing most men would do; but I think that you and I are too wise, not to say too honorable, to adopt such a course of deception.”
Percy Levant laughed sardonically.
“Pardon; I forgot that you were a man of high principle, and a light of Exeter Hall. Well, what will you do?”
“I shall tell the truth,” said Spenser Churchill, with a virtuous uplifting of the eyes. “I shall introduce you to Lady Despard as a musical genius—you are a genius, you know, my dear Percy!—struggling against the difficulties and obstacles insuperable to poverty and—er—that kind of thing. Lady Despard is never so happy as when she is assisting struggling talent, and she will receive any one whom I recommend; dear Lady Despard! The rest I leave to you. If you cannot find a way to Miss Marlowe’s heart, then I will confess that I am very much mistaken in you.”