There was also Mr.Mills Happerton,--partner in Hunky and Sons,--with his wife, respecting whom Mr.Wharton at once concluded that he was there as being the friend of Ferdinand Lopez.

If so, how much influence must Ferdinand Lopez have in that house! Nevertheless, Mr.Mills Happerton was in his way a great man, and a credit to Mrs.Roby.And there were Sir Damask and Lady Monogram, who were people moving quite in the first circles.

Sir Damask shot pigeons, and so did also Dick Roby,--whence had perhaps arisen an intimacy.

But Lady Monogram was not at all a person to dine with Mrs.Dick Roby without other cause than this.

But a great official among one's acquaintance can do so much for one! It was probable that Lady Monogram's presence was among the first fruits of the happy family reconciliation that had taken place.