"Perhaps it will, though that is a mystery to me. Mr. Hales, you will keep near me, won't you, as I see the Honourable Edward looking at me sideways. I'm so afraid he'll want to talk to me privately."
"But perhaps——"
"Oh no! I couldn't possibly think of it! Besides, I'm afraid it's true what Aunt Dove said. He wants the—money, and you see it would be a dreadful disappointment to hear that it—was not to be had. I thought money might make two people happy, and here are the ices and they haven't yet melted!"
Everyone soon rose to proceed to the barn, and in that interval Toney flew to find the genius.
CHAPTER XXIII.
TEN MINUTES.
The carriages rolled up to the barn door in quick succession, and Lady Dove did indeed feel proud as she received her guests at the entrance of the fairy bower, now styled the concert-room. Never had such an entertainment been given there by her before, and now a wireless message went round the guests that Frank Weston was the star they had come to hear. Such a treat had not been imagined, for crowned heads had to petition him, not to command. How had he been persuaded to come and give a private concert at Aldersfield House? Words of gratitude were heard on every side.
"How kind of you, Lady Dove! This is an unexpected treat; Lord Dashwood tried in vain to get him! He is very proud and very original. I heard the Emperor of Germany could not get him to play last year. The Germans say we have never had such a genius. Quite a poor man was he? Genius plays strange freaks. They say he can make as much money as he likes—Lady Gwen Steward was dying to marry him they say—but he wouldn't look at her. They say he was once jilted and that turned him into a misogamist."
Lady Dove tried to answer appropriately and was all smiles. She kept Mr. Russell near her, he was so clever and so useful, and Sir Evas was neither!
"How kind of you to come this wet evening. Yes, Mr. Frank Weston is really here, he dined with us—such a charming fellow—genius written all over him"—and so on whilst the crowd rustled into seats. Where was Toney?