"Oh, she has got the reward, as, really and truly, it was through her that the truth came to light. Sir Joseph's lawyers paid her the money last week, and she told me that she intends to retire from business and marry her purser. Any more questions?"
Lady Sanby thought, and was about to ask another, when the door of the boudoir opened and Colonel Ilse, looking years younger, appeared on the threshold.
"Pardon me for entering unannounced, Lady Sanby," he said, in his most polite manner, "but I have brought my motor to the street door."
"You couldn't have very well brought it to this door, Colonel," said the old dame, drily. "So you are going with the young couple?"
"Not immediately," said the newcomer. "I must allow Ralph and Elsie to resume their interrupted honeymoon. I shall join them when they reach New York, after their trip through Australia and New Zealand. Perhaps it is selfish of me, but I have been without my daughter for so long that I want to have her to myself."
"What do you say to that, Ralph?" asked Lady Sanby, with twinkling eyes.
"Oh, it is natural, and the Colonel and I get on splendidly together," said the young man, laughing. "When we return the Colonel is going to live with us--or, rather, Audrey and I are going to live with the Colonel."
"What is mine is yours," said Colonel Ilse, readily. "I have a country house and plenty of money, to which Elsie is heiress, so when I go you will have no troubles in a pecuniary sense. I really wish," added the Colonel, somewhat anxiously, "that Miss Pearl had not induced Sir Joseph to leave Audrey any money.
"Oh, that is only fair, considering how he behaved to her and to her mother--I mean to Lady Branwin--when he was alive. And the more money Ralph and Audrey have the sooner will he reach the Woolsack and get a title."
"That is a long way off yet, grannie."