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A cold voice struck suddenly through this rhapsodizing。 It was that of the bride。
〃Where is your father？〃 she asked； without any trace of emotion。
The bridegroom stopped short； and a deep blush spread itself over his boyish face。 His tone was filled full to overflowing with compunction as he answered。
〃Oh； Lord！ I had forgotten all about Dad。〃 He beamed on Mary with a smile half…ashamed； half…happy。 〃I'm awfully sorry；〃 he said earnestly。 〃I'll tell you what we'll do。 We'll send Dad a wireless from the ship； then write him from Paris。〃
But the confident tone brought no response of agreement from Mary。 On the contrary； her voice was； if anything； even colder as she replied to his suggestion。 She spoke with an emphasis that brooked no evasion。
〃What was your promise？ I told you that I wouldn't go with you until you had brought your father to me； and he had wished us happiness。〃 Dick placed his hands gently on his wife's shoulders and regarded her with a touch of indignation in his gaze。
〃Mary；〃 he said reproachfully； 〃you are not going to hold me to that promise？〃
The answer was given with a decisiveness that admitted of no question； and there was a hardness in her face that emphasized the words。
〃I am going to hold you to that promise； Dick。〃
For a few seconds； the young man stared at her with troubled eyes。 Then he moved impatiently； and dropped his hands from her shoulders。 But his usual cheery smile came again； and he shrugged resignedly。
〃All right； Mrs。 Gilder；〃 he said； gaily。 The sound of the name provoked him to new pleasure。 〃Sounds fine； doesn't it？〃 he demanded； with an uxorious air。
〃Yes；〃 Mary said； but there was no enthusiasm in her tone。
The husband went on speaking with no apparent heed of his wife's indifference。
〃You pack up what things you need； girlie；〃 he directed。 〃Just a fewbecause they sell clothes in Paris。 And they are some class； believe me！ And meantime； I'll run down to Dad's office； and have him back here in half an hour。 You will be all ready； won't you？〃
Mary answered quickly； with a little catching of her breath； but still coldly。
〃Yes； yes； I'll be ready。 Go and bring your father。〃
〃You bet I will；〃 Dick cried heartily。 He would have taken her in his arms again； but she evaded the caress。 〃What's the matter？〃 he demanded； plainly at a loss to understand this repulse。
〃Nothing！〃 was the ambiguous answer。
〃Just one！〃 Dick pleaded。
〃No；〃 the bride replied； and there was determination in the monosyllable。
It was evident that Dick perceived the futility of argument。
〃For a married woman you certainly are shy；〃 he replied； with a sly glance toward Aggie； who beamed back sympathy。 〃You'll excuse me； won't you； Miss Lynch；。。。 Good…by； Mrs。 Gilder。〃 He made a formal bow to his wife。 As he hurried to the door； he expressed again his admiration for the name。 〃Mrs。 Gilder！ Doesn't that sound immense？〃 And with that he was gone。
There was silence in the drawing…room until the two women heard the closing of the outer door of the apartment。 Then； at last； Aggie relieved her pent…up emotions in a huge sigh that was near a groan。
〃Oh Gawd！〃 she gasped。 〃The poor simp！〃
CHAPTER XIII。 THE ADVENT OF GRIGGS。
Later on； Garson； learning from the maid that Dick Gilder had left； returned； just as Mary was glancing over the release； with which General Hastings was to be compensated； along with the return of his letters； for his payment of ten thousand dollars to Miss Agnes Lynch。
〃Hello； Joe；〃 Mary said graciously as the forger entered。 Then she spoke crisply to Agnes。 〃And now you must get ready。 You are to be at Harris's office with this document at four o'clock； and remember that you are to let the lawyer manage everything。〃
Aggie twisted her doll…like face into a grimace。
〃It gets my angora that I'll have to miss Pa Gilder's being led like a lamb to the slaughter…house。〃 And that was the nearest the little adventuress ever came to making a Biblical quotation。
〃Anyhow；〃 she protested； 〃I don't see the use of all this monkey business here。 All I want is the coin。〃 But she hurried obediently； nevertheless； to get ready for the start。
Garson regarded Mary quizzically。
〃It's lucky for her that she met you；〃 he said。 〃She's got no more brains than a gnat。〃
〃And brains are mighty useful things； even in our business；〃 Mary replied seriously； 〃particularly in our business。〃
〃I should say they were；〃 Garson agreed。 〃You have proved that。〃
Aggie came back； putting on her gloves； and cocking her small head very primly under the enormous hat that was garnished with costliest plumes。 It was thus that she consoled herself in a measure for the business of the occasionin lieu of cracked ice from Tiffany's at one hundred and fifty a carat。 Mary gave over the release； and Aggie； still grumbling； deposited it in her handbag。
〃It seems to me we're going through a lot of red tape；〃 she said spitefully。
Mary； from her chair at the desk； regarded the malcontent with a smile； but her tone was crisp as she answered。
〃Listen； Agnes。 The last time you tried to make a man give up part of his money it resulted in your going to prison for two years。〃
Aggie sniffed； as if such an outcome were the merest bagatelle。
〃But that way was so exciting；〃 she urged； not at all convinced。
〃And this way is so safe；〃 Mary rejoined； sharply。 〃Besides； my dear； you would not get the money。 My way will。 Your way was blackmail； mine is not。 Understand？〃
〃Oh； sure；〃 Aggie replied； grimly； on her way to the door。 〃It's clear as Pittsburgh。〃 With that sarcasm directed against legal subtleties； she tripped daintily out； an entirely ravishing vision； if somewhat garish as to raiment； and soon in the glances of admiration that every man cast on her guileless…seeming beauty； she forgot that she had ever been annoyed。
Garson's comment as she departed was uttered with his accustomed bluntness。
〃Solid ivory！〃
〃She's a darling； anyway！〃 Mary declared； smiling。 〃You really don't half…appreciate her； Joe！〃
〃Anyhow； I appreciate that hat；〃 was the reply； with a dry chuckle。
〃Mr。 Griggs；〃 Fannie announced。 There was a smile on the face of the maid； which was explained a minute later when； in accordance with her mistress's order； the visitor was shown into the drawing…room； for his presence was of an elegance so extraordinary as to attract attention anywhereand mirth as well from ribald observers。
Meantime； Garson had explained to Mary。
〃It's English Eddieyou met him once。 I wonder what he wants？ Probably got a trick for me。 We often used to work together。〃
〃Nothing without my consent；〃 Mary warned。
〃Oh； no； no； sure not！〃 Garson agreed。
Further discussion was cut short by the appearance of English Eddie himself； a tall； handsome man in the early thirties； who paused just within the doorway； and delivered to Mary a bow that was the perfection of elegance。 Mary made no effort to restrain the smile caused by the costume of Mr。 Griggs。 Yet； there was no violation of the canons of good taste； except in the aggregate。 From spats to hat； from walking coat to gloves； everything was perfect of its kind。 Only； there was an over…elaboration； so that the ensemble was flamboyant。 And the man's manners precisely harmonized with his clothes； whereby the whole effect was emphasized and rendered bizarre。 Garson took one amazed look； and then rocked with laughter。
Griggs regarded his former associate reproachfully for a moment； and then grinned in frank sympathy。
〃Really； Mr。 Griggs； you quite overcome me；〃 Mary said； half…apologetically。
The visitor cast a self…satisfied glance over his garb。
〃I think it's rather neat； myself。〃 He had some reputation in the under…world for his manner of dressing； and he regarded this latest achievement as his masterpiece。
〃Sure some duds！〃 Garson admitted； checking his merriment。
〃From your costume；〃 Mary suggested； 〃one might judge that this is purely a social call。 Is it？〃
〃Well； not exactly；〃 Griggs answered with a smile。
〃So I fancied；〃 his hostess replied。 〃So； sit down； please； and tell us all about it。〃
While she was speaking； Garson went to the various doors； and made sure that all were shut； then he took a seat in a chair near that which Griggs occupied by the desk； so that the three were close together； and could speak softly。
English Eddie wasted no time in getting to the point。
〃Now； look here；〃 he said； rapidly。 〃I've got the greatest game in the world。。。。 Two years ago； a set of Gothic tapestries； worth three hundred thousand dollars and a set of Fragonard panels； worth nearly as much more； were plucked from a chateau in France and smuggled into this country。〃
〃I have never heard of that；〃 Mary said； with some interest。
〃No；〃 Griggs replied。 〃You naturally wouldn't； for the simple reason that it's been kept on the dead quiet。〃
〃Are them things really worth that much？〃 Garson exclaimed。
〃Sometimes more；〃 Mary answered。 〃Morgan has a set of Gothic tapestries worth half a million dollars。〃
Garson uttered an ejaculation of disgust。
〃He pays half a million dollars for a set of rugs！〃 There was a no