"My dear Wigan, that is exactly what I want to find out."
"How am I to make her acquaintance?" I asked.
"Not as Murray Wigan, certainly," he said, and then he added, after a pause: "Would you mind pretending to be Zena's lover? When I saw her a few days ago I said I would suggest this way to her."
Mind? Pretend! The professor little knew how the proposal pleased me. He was offering me a part I could play to perfection.
"It is a good idea," was all I said.
"We even thought of a name for you—George Hastings—and you are a surveyor. Being in Richmond, you thought you might venture to call, not having seen Zena for some time. Mrs. Barrymore lives at Lantern House, Richmond. If you see Mrs. Barrymore, as I hope you will, and make yourself agreeable, she may give you permission to come again. I think it will work all right."
"Will to-morrow be too soon to go?" I asked.
"No."
"If I am given the chance, I will certainly go again when I can. Unfortunately, I am very busy just now."
"Ah, I haven't asked you about your work. Anything interesting?"