Nevertheless the young man was still involved pretty deeply in the crisis of his fate. Bliss unspeakable was so nearly within his grasp, and yet it was so elusive. He was not without the rudiments of determination, and he had fully made up his mind that this was the girl for him, but just now he really didn’t quite know how he was to enter his kingdom.
Decidedly he must pluck this peach, and he must pluck it immediately. But how?—that was the problem, with the Fates having loaded the dice.
CHAPTER XV
IN WHICH WE SIT AT THE FEET OF GAMALIEL
On the morrow, or about midnight that same day, to be precise, when Arminius Wingrove came into the club after attending an important première, the great man was engaged in conversation by Mr. Philip while they dallied with devilled kidneys and other comestibles.
“Minnie,” said the vain young fellow, “everybody says you are the cleverest chap in London, so I want your advice.”
Rather cool, perhaps, to demand advice of the cleverest chap in London in this point-blank manner, but Arminius, who kept a generous heart beneath his waistcoat of white piquè, showed no displeasure.
“If you mean about the girl you are making a fool of yourself over,” said the great man, “don’t, is the advice I shall have to give you.”
“Oh, but I’ve got beyond that already,” said the vain young fellow with a rather grand simplicity.
“Have you, though?” said Arminius, pensive-like.
“Yes, I’m goin’ to marry her if she’ll have me, but the trouble is, she won’t.”