"Three weeks!" Ben gasped.
"Yes. I can't wait any longer. I'm going over to New York for a day or two to settle some affairs, and I want when I return in exactly three weeks to find the house ready for me to live in. I want to go straight there and settle down and be happy. Will you do it?"
"But——" Ben was beginning.
"No 'buts,' Miss Beck," said the American. "Here's a plan of the house, every room measured up. Take it and get busy. And here's a cheque that will more than cover everything, and the bank is ready to let you have more on your signature, if you'll kindly write one out for me for reference. I haven't a minute now. The signature, please."
He rose.
"But I don't know your taste," said Ben.
"It's yours," said the American; "or rather, I should like it to be."
"Do you want a butler and a footman or only women?" Ben called after him.
"Nice women, named Kate and Lucy and Alice and things like that," he replied, as he left the room.