The older man continued: "I do not ask, then, as you, where is Mr. Grayson? I ask, where is Mr. Grayson's money? The gentleman may be in heaven, or—ah!—elsewhere; presumably the latter. But, in either case, his money is not with him. Where is it, then? These, and several other interesting queries, I am waiting to put to Mr. Smith, who"—he took out his watch—"is due here in precisely ten minutes."
He smiled blandly at the young man, who seized his hand and wrung it fervently.
"And you will let me work under him, for you?"
"That was my intention before this interview. But, since your revelation, I doubt its wisdom. Coolness, impartiality of judgment——"
"Oh, come, sir!" protested Van Ingen, reddening. "I think I've had enough!"
The ambassador laughed. "Perhaps you have," he conceded. "Especially as the young lady has not yet struck her colours—eh?"
"Nor shows the slightest signs of doing so," replied Van Ingen ruefully. "There's another fellow making the running—that foreign beggar, Poltavo."
The ambassador looked up swiftly. "Not Count Poltavo, distantly related to the Czar?"
"Related to the devil!" muttered Van Ingen gloomily. "The way he gets around Doris——"
His guardian looked a little disturbed. "I am sorry for you, my boy. Poltavo is a strong man. I fancy he will give you quite a fight."