But the conviction that he would in some way be equal to the occasion prevented her.

The dinner passed off with some constraint, no doubt emanating from the conscious Kitty and Gunn.

Nevertheless, when they had returned to the drawing-room, Gabriel rubbed his hands expectantly.
"I prevailed on Sylvester this morning to promise to tell us some of his experiences--something COMPLETE and satisfactory this time.

Eh ?" Uncle Sylvester, warming his cold blood before the fire, looked momentarily forgetful and--disappointing.

Cousins Jane and Emma shrugged their shoulders.
"Eh," said Uncle Sylvester absently, "er--er--oh yes! Well" (more cheerfully), "about what, eh ?" "Let it be," said Marie pointedly, fixing her black magnetic eyes on the wicked stranger, "let it be something about the DISCOVERY of gold, or a buried TREASURE HOARD, or a robbery." To her intense disgust Uncle Sylvester, far from being discomfited or confused, actually looked pleased, and his gray eyes thawed slightly.
"Certainly," he said.