Chapter 16

"W'at's eatin' you? Is they an answer?"

"They ain't no answer," P. Sybarite admitted.

"Well, whatcha want? I got no time to stick round here kiddin'."

"One moment of your valuable time. I believe you delivered a message at the Monastery Apartments in Forty-third Street this morning."

"Well, an' what 'f I did?"

"Only this."

P. Sybarite extracted an immense roll of bills from his pocket; transferred it to his other hand; delved deeper; eventually produced a single twenty-dollar gold-piece.

"Take this," he said, tossing it to the boy with princely nonchalance. "It's the last of a lot, but--it's yours."

"What for?" Western Union demanded in amaze; while, as for George Bross, _he_ developed plain symptoms of apoplexy.

"You'll never know," said P. Sybarite. "Now run along before I come to."

In the shadow of this threat, Western Union fled precipitately....

P. Sybarite rose; yawned; smiled benignantly upon George Bross.

"I'm off to bed--was only waiting for this message," he announced; "but before I go--tell me; how much money does Violet think you ought to be earning before you're eligible for the Matrimonial Stakes?"

"She said somethin' oncet about fifty per," George remembered gloomily.

"It's yours--doubled," P. Sybarite told him. "To-morrow you will resign from the employ of Whigham & Wimper and go to Blessington's to enter their shipping department at a hundred a week; and if you don't earn it, may God have mercy on your wretched soul!"

George got up very suddenly.

"I'll go send for the doctor," he announced.

"One moment more." P. Sybarite dropped a detaining hand upon his arm. "You and Violet are invited to dinner to-night--at the Hotel Plaza. Don't be alarmed; you needn't dress; we'll dine privately in Marian's apartment."

"Marian!"

"Miss Blessington--Molly Lessing that was."

"Honest!" said George sincerely. "I don't know whether to think you've gone bughouse or not. You've always been a bit queer and foolish in the bean, but never since I've known you--"

"And after dinner," P. Sybarite pursued evenly, "you're going to attend a very quiet little wedding party."

"Whose, for God's sake?"

"Marian's and mine; and the only reason why you can't be best man is that the best man will be my cousin, Peter Kenny."

"Is that straight?"

"On the level."

George concluded that there was sanity in P. Sybarite's eyes.

"Well, I certainly got to slip you the congrats!" he protested. "And say--you goin' to bounce Whigham and Wimper, too?"

"Yes."

"And whatcha goin' do then?"

"I? To tell you the truth, I'm considering joining the Union and agitating for an eight-hour Day of Days. This one of mine has been eighteen hours long, more or less--since I got those theatre tickets, you know--and I'm too dog-tired to keep my eyes open another minute. After I've had a nap, I'll tell you all about everything." ...

But he wasn't too tired to read his telegram, when he found himself again, and for the last time, in his hall bedroom.

It said simply: "I love you.--Marian."

From this P. Sybarite looked up to his reflection in the glass. And presently he smiled sheepishly, and blinked.

"Perceval...!" murmured the little man fondly.

THE END

_By the author of "The Brass Bowl"_

THE BANDBOX

_By_ LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

Author of "The Day of Days," "The Destroying Angel," etc.

Illustrated by A.I. Keller. Cloth. $1.25 _net_.

Divertingly told, in Mr. Vance's familiarly vigorous style, it never fails to entertain.--_Boston Transcript._

Mr. Vance uses the wand of a conjurer--his humor comes bubbling to the surface all the time.--_New York Tribune._

The yarn is excellently calculated to pass the time of a jaded novel reader.... The story is quite surprising enough, and amusing at that.--_New York Evening Sun._

It is a rousing tale of adventure and love told with verve and humor. Many will pronounce it the best story yet written by the author of "The Brass Bowl."--_Chicago Record-Herald._

The tale bristles with breathless adventure, mistaken identities, detective investigations, romantic developments, and startling situations.... It is a rousing story, told with a stimulating style, and culminating in love rewarded; but, before that happy end is reached, there are many thrilling revelations.--_Literary Digest_, New York.

LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS 34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON

_A Curious Story of Woman's Love_

THE DESTROYING ANGEL

By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

Author of "The Bandbox," "The Day of Days," etc.

Illustrated by A.I. Keller. Cloth. $1.25 _net_.

Mr. Vance keeps events moving too fast to cast any shadows before.--_New York World._

A very readable story ... Certainly there is not a dull moment in the book.--_New York Times._

It's a good story, well told, with plenty of brisk down-to-date humor, and its few characters stand out well.--_Los Angeles Times._

Full of romance and strange surprises ... A narrative of dramatic events, thrilling adventures, and all-conquering passion that makes a swiftly moving tale.--_Philadelphia North American._

Half a dozen less vigorous and full-blooded stories might be built from the material so lavishly employed ... There is no moment, from start to finish, when the story is not absorbing, and the end of the narrative, which winds to a happy climax, is all that the most ardent romancist could desire.--_Chicago Record-Herald._

LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS 34 BEACON STREETFOSTON