The collection of wine and pictures was a hobby of my grandfather's, for which we, his descendants, can never be sufficiently grateful." Hamel praised his wine, as indeed he had every reason to, but for a few moments the smooth conversation of his host fell upon deaf ears.

He looked from the boy's face, pale and wrinkled as though with some sort of suppressed pain, to the girl's still, stony expression.

This was indeed a house of mysteries! There was something here incomprehensible, some thing about the relations of these three and their knowledge of one another, utterly baffling.

It was the queerest household, surely, into which any stranger had ever been precipitated.
"The planting of trees and the laying down of port are two virtues in our ancestors which have never been properly appreciated," Mr.Fentolin continued.

"Let us, at any rate, free ourselves from the reproach of ingratitude so far as regards my grandfather--Gerald Fentolin--to whom I believe we are indebted for this wine.