“One might form them quickly enough, but not express them.”

“Which means that you don’t like Schwartz? Well, he is not exactly my sort, I admit, but he is wealthy, Minkie, and one must bow the knee before the golden calf occasionally. And his repute stands high in the city, so he might be a useful friend. We must make the best of him, eh?”

“One always does that with one’s guests, of course,” said Minkie, who could feel a heavy assortment of gold and silver coins in her pocket.

[Pg 29]

[Pg 29]

Minkie jumped out when I pulled up at the front entrance. Dan was standing on the top step and wondering what in the world was sitting beside Jim on the box. Before he could say a word, Minkie grabbed him and whispered in his ear. But he was very uneasy, because the black man sprang down almost as promptly as Minkie, and nearly frightened Evangeline into a fit when she met him in the hall. He took his hat off in quite an elegant way.

“I am Mr. Schwartz’s valet,” he said. “Mr. Grosvenor was good enough to bring me with him from London. Is my master in his room now?”

“N-no, sir,” stuttered Evangeline. He gave her the queerest feeling, she told Cookie later.

“Well, if you will kindly show me to his suite I will prepare his clothes for dinner,” went on the negro, who appeared to be more anxious to get to work than any of our servants.

Evangeline glanced at Minkie and the Guv’nor; she was sure it must be all right, as [Pg 30]the negro had arrived in their company, but she dared not go upstairs with him. Wild horses would not drag her there, she said, though I would back myself to haul her to the top attic before she could say “knife.” “It’s the Blue Room,” she said. “First on the left in that corridor,” and she pointed to the side of the house where Mr. Schwartz was lodged. The big darky went up at once. Evangeline helped to carry in some of the parcels, and Minkie took her father’s overcoat and hat, but kept an eye on Dan, who was looking at the stairs anxiously. Dolly came running to kiss the Old Man, and Mam appeared.

[Pg 30]

“Where is Mr. Schwartz?” asked the Guv’nor.

“Here I am,” said Schwartz, appearing in the drawing-room doorway. “I am afraid you had a cold journey from town. It was exceedingly kind of you to send me on 

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