Page:Guy Boothby--A Bid for Fortune.djvu/225

Rh "'If you have time we might perhaps go and see them now. My house is but a short distance from the Domain, and my carriage is waiting at the gates.'

"'I shall be delighted,' I said, thinking there could be no possible harm in my accepting his courteous invitation.

"'But before we go, may I be allowed to introduce myself,' the old gentleman said, taking a card-case from his pocket and withdrawing a card. This he handed to me and on it I read—

"'I am afraid I have no card with me to offer you in return,' I said; 'but I am the Marquis of Beckenham.'

"'Indeed! Then I am doubly honoured,' the old gentleman said with a low bow. 'Now shall we wend our way up towards my carriage?'

"We did so, chatting as we went. At the gates a neat brougham was waiting for us and in it we took our places.

"'Home,' cried my host, and forthwith we set off down the street. Up one thoroughfare and down an other we passed until I lost all count of our direction. Throughout the drive my companion talked away in his best style; commented on the architecture of the houses, had many queer little stories to tell of the passers-by, and in many other ways kept my attention employed till the carriage came to a stand-still before a small but pretty villa in a quiet street.

"Mr. Draper immediately alighted, and when I had done so, dismissed his coachman, who drove away as we passed through the little garden and approached the dwelling. The front door was opened by a dignified