"No," said Grace.
"Very well," he said, meekly. "I'll be here just the same—in case."
She shook her head. Ethel, who was carefully not looking, saw her do it.
Grace did not appear the next day, but Ethel did, properly accompanied by her own mother. They walked toward the northeast corner, on their way to a near-by table. H. R. rose and approached them.
"Just in time," he said to them. "Thursday always was my lucky day."
They sat down. To the waiter he said:
"Tell the chef—for three; for me."
"Yes, Mr. Rutgers," said the waiter, very deferentially.
"What have you up your sleeve, Mrs. Vandergilt? And how near is victory?"
"You mean—"