‘I hardly know where I am,’ said Ferdinand, after a few minutes. ‘Am I really alive?’
‘Let us think how we are to get out of this place. I suppose they will take my cheque. If not, I must be off.’
‘Oh, do not go,’ said Ferdinand. ‘If you go I shall not believe it is true. My dear Montfort, is it really true?’
‘You see, my dear Armine,’ said Lord Montfort, smiling, ‘it was fated that I should marry a lady you rejected. And to tell you the truth, the reason why I did not get to you yesterday, as I ought to have done, was an unexpected conversation I had with Miss Grandison. I really think this arrest was a most fortunate incident. It brought affairs to a crisis. We should have gone on playing at cross purposes for ever.’
Here the little waiter entered again with a note and a packet.
‘The same messenger brought them?’ asked Ferdinand.
‘No, sir; the Count’s servant brought the note, and waits for an answer; the packet came by another person.’
Ferdinand opened the note and read as follows:—
‘Berkeley-square, half-past 7, morning.
‘Mon Ami,—Best joke in the world! I broke Crocky’s bank three times. Of course; I told you so. I win 15,000L. Directly I am awake I will send you the three thousand, and I will lend you the rest till your marriage. It will not be very long. I write this before I go to bed, that you may have it early. Adieu, cher ami.