Love, aided by the Countess, had engaged an inert mass.

The champion was discovered in the person of the provincial Don Juan, Mr.Harry Jocelyn.

Harry had gone on a mysterious business of his own to London.

He returned with a green box under his arm, which, five minutes after his arrival, was entrusted to Conning, in company with a genial present for herself, of a kind not perhaps so fit for exhibition; at least they both thought so, for it was given in the shades.

Harry then went to pay his respects to his mother, who received him with her customary ironical tolerance.