"I leave the matter in your hands, Mark. Though you are so young, you seem to have a judgment beyond your years."
"Thank you for the compliment, mother. I am afraid Uncle Solon would not agree with you. That reminds me. I have an engagement with Edgar to-morrow evening."
"Indeed! I thought you and Edgar were not friendly."
"He has got into a scrape, and I have promised to help him out."
"Is it anything serious?"
"He owes an adventurer seventy-five dollars, and the latter is trying to frighten him into paying it. I know the man to be a swindler, and shall be able to foil him in his plans."
"If you can be of service to Edgar I hope you will. He has not treated you well, but he is your cousin."
The next evening Edgar Talbot walked into the Fifth Avenue Hotel. He felt nervous, for he did not understand how Mark could help him. It seemed strange to him that he should be indebted to his poor and almost despised cousin for help in his time of trouble.
A minute after Mark entered looking cheerful and happy.
"Good evening, Edgar," he said. "Has our friend Schuyler appeared?"