"I'm afraid I forgot it, sir," Blake confessed. "Very sorry, but I'm not even sure I put the things away."
Challoner rang a bell and gave an order to a servant.
"Did you see the Buddha?" he asked Millicent.
"No," she said. "I don't think so."
"Or the brass plate with the fantastic serpent pattern round the rim?"
"I'm afraid I didn't," Millicent answered in confusion.
Challoner looked hard at Blake, and then his eyes twinkled.
"Well," he laughed, "perhaps it wasn't to be expected."
There was a moment's silence. Millicent looked down with the color in her face; Blake stood very straight, smiling at the others.
"We are all friends here," he said, "and I'm proud to announce that Millicent has promised to marry me as soon as I return from Canada." He bowed to Mrs. Keith and the Colonel. "As you have taken her guardian's place, madam, and you, sir, are the head of the house, I should like to think we have your approval."