"We only heard about it ourselves ten minutes ago," replied Lady Jocelyn soothingly. "Tony always does things in that sort of way, you know."
Henry's eyes travelled back to Isabel, and rested on her with admiration—not, however, untinged by a certain trace of doubt.
"You must forgive me," he said again, "but at present I haven't even the pleasure of knowing your name."
"Isabel," repeated Tony, "Isabel Francis. It's a nice name, isn't it?"
To this inquiry Henry returned no answer.
"Are you any relation of Sir George Francis of Laurence Weston?" he asked.
Isabel shook her head. "I don't think so," she replied simply.
"As a matter of fact," said Tony, "Isabel has no relations at all. That's one of her chief charms."
"No relations at all!" exclaimed Henry in an aghast and incredulous voice.
"Not one," said Tony firmly. "But you needn't worry about that, Henry. Our engagement has the warm approval of both Aunt Fanny and Guy."
"That's quite right," said Lady Jocelyn, nodding her head. "I think Tony is a great deal luckier than he deserves."
Henry turned to Guy. "And you too?" he demanded.
Guy rose manfully to the occasion.
"If I was in Tony's place," he declared, "I should be the proudest and happiest man in the world."
With the air of one who has been unexpectedly torpedoed Henry abandoned the unequal contest.
"In that case," he observed in a slightly dazed tone, "I can only offer you both my sincere congratulations."
"I knew you would be pleased," said Tony. "You always wanted me to get married, didn't you?"
"I hope," continued Henry, addressing himself to Isabel, "that before long we may have the pleasure of becoming better acquainted. Unfortunately I can't stay now, because I have an important political appointment at half-past twelve."
"What a pity," remarked Lady Jocelyn. "I was just going to suggest that you should stay and lunch with us."
"It's very kind of you," said Henry; "but I'm afraid my presence at the House is indispensable." He turned back to Tony. "You must bring Miss Francis round to see us as soon as possible," he added, "this afternoon if you can. I know that Laura will be intensely anxious to meet her."
"I am sure of that," said Tony. "We are a bit full up, but we'll come along if we can. Anyhow, you will be able to let Laura know what a charming girl Isabel is."
He smiled cheerfully at his cousin, and the latter, whose faculties still seemed to be suffering a little from the shock that they had received, shook hands all round and withdrew from the room.
"I think he took it splendidly," said Tony, as soon as the door was closed. "There's lots of grit in the Conway family when it comes to the point."
"Are you really going round there this afternoon?" inquired Guy.
Tony shook his head. "I am afraid we sha'n't have time," he said. "I have to go and get a special license and I believe it's a most exhausting business."
"A special license!" exclaimed Lady Jocelyn. "Do you mean you are going to be married at once?"
"Of course we are," said Tony. "I am not going to run any more risk of losing Isabel. Once we are married she will be quite safe whatever happens. They can't have her back then without making me King of Livadia, and I think that even Congosta would draw the line at that."
"It's the best plan, Aunt Fanny," put in Guy quietly. "We talked it all over on the boat coming back. This man Congosta is still in London, and if he was to come across Tony and Isabel it might lead to all sorts of trouble. The safest thing is for them to get married and go away at once on theBetty. Congosta will probably return to Livadia before long, but meanwhile it's absolutely essential that they should both keep out of the way."
"I suppose it is," admitted Lady Jocelyn. "From what you have told me I should imagine he would be a very unpleasant person to have hanging about while one was trying to enjoy a honeymoon." She got up from the sofa. "You haven't half finished the story yet," she added. "I want to know all sorts of things—how you propose to account for Molly's sudden disappearance from the Gaiety, and what's happened to that nice friend of yours who provided you with the car. He seems to be a remarkably amiable and obliging young man, but I am afraid he must have rather damaged his prospects of making a comfortable living in Livadia."
"Jimmy's all right," said Tony. "He came back with us, and we are going to start a shop together in Piccadilly. As for Molly—well, I don't think we shall have any real trouble there. She has no relations who are likely to make a fuss, and we have fixed up a good sound lie for the theatre that ought to keep them quiet."
"You shall tell me about it when I come back," said Lady Jocelyn. "I must go downstairs first and talk to the cook, or else we sha'n't have enough to eat for lunch. You are all going to stay of course."
"I'm afraid I can't," replied Guy, shaking his head. "I must get back to Hampstead as soon as possible. There are a lot of things to see to before Tony goes away."
"If you are thinking of giving us a wedding present," said Tony, "we should like the revolver with which you murdered the policeman."
"Come along, Guy," said Lady Jocelyn, taking his arm. "They are an ungrateful pair of children, and we will leave them to their fate."
"I wish I was really rich," said Tony, as the door closed. "I should like to buy Long Acre and put a high wall round it, and never let any one go into it except ourselves." He took Isabel's hands and drew her gently towards him. "I can't think of anything else," he added, "that isn't absolutely and splendidly perfect."
"Only about Molly," answered Isabel, looking up at him with rather troubled eyes. "Oh, Tony, you do think she's safe and happy, don't you?"
"I am sure of it," said Tony confidently. "They can never go back on what they have done, and in about two months Molly will have the whole place under her thumb. If any one's going to be unhappy it will be Da Freitas and the Count de Sé."
"Oh, I do hope so," said Isabel feelingly. Then she paused, and took a long breath. "She will make a wonderful queen, Tony. She will be as good at it as I should have been bad."
"You were meant for something much nicer than that," said Tony.
He drew her down into his arms, and bending forward pressed a long and passionate kiss upon her soft and slightly parted lips.
"I love kissing you, Isabel," he remarked. "You always taste of crushed violets."
"Do I?" said Isabel dreamily. "I'm so glad, Tony."
"So am I," said Tony; and with some deliberation he kissed her again.
THE END