I've only stayed on here to oblige Willoughby." It was easy to see that the frank, splendid young fellow was but awkwardly filling his role of polite inquisitor, for they talked shop a couple of hours over a bottle at the Club, and Hardwicke at last took his leave, no whit the wiser.
"If he did not post me as to the heiress, at least, old Willoughby gets no valuable information," laughed the Major, that night.

"The boy seems to be ambitious and heart-whole.

Old Johnstone will soon clear out to the Highlands, I suppose, with this hidden pearl." But Major Hawke laughed softly when the morning brought to him a personal invitation to dine "informally" with General Willoughby.

"Wants to know, you know," laughed the Major.

"All I have to do is to keep cool and let him drink himself jolly, and so, answer his own questions." "That Hardwicke is an uncommonly fine young fellow." So decided the Major as he splashed into his morning tub.