The countess was a little surprised at the request. She looked up at
Ishmael before answering it.
Their eyes met. Some mutual intelligence passed in those meeting glances. And she then answered:
"Yes, Mr. Worth. I will intrust it to you as long as you would like to keep it; without reserve, and without even asking you what you wish to do with it."
Again Ishmael bowed, and then he closed the case of the miniature and deposited it in his breast-pocket.
"I hope that youth is not falling in love with his grandmother. I have heard of such things in my life," thought the judge crossly within himself, for the judge was growing jealous for Claudia. He had apparently forgotten the existence of Bee.
As Ishmael was to leave Cameron Court at a very early hour of the morning, before any of the family would be likely to be up to see him off, he took leave of his friends upon this evening, and retired early to his room to complete his preparations for the journey.
CHAPTER LI
ISHMAEL'S ERRAND.
I tell thee, friend, I have not seen
So likely an ambassador of love;
A day in April never came so sweet,
To show that costly summer was at hand.
—Shakespeare.
Ishmael left Edinboro' by the earliest express train for London, where he arrived at nightfall.