any effort Graustark might make in other directions to secure the much-needed money.     

       "Will you come to the point, Mr. Blithers?" said the young Prince, stopping abruptly in the middle of the road and facing his companion.       "What are you trying to get at?"     

       Mr. Blithers was not long in getting to the point. In the first place, he was hot and tired and his shoes were hurting; in the second place, he felt that he knew precisely how to handle these money-seeking scions of nobility. He planted himself squarely in front of the Prince and jammed       his hands deep into his coat pockets.     

       "The day my daughter is married to the man of my choice, I will hand over to that man exactly twenty million dollars," he said slowly, impressively.     

       "Yes, go on."     

       "The sole object I have in life is to see my girl happy and at the same time at the top of the heap. She is worthy of any man's love. She is as good as gold. She—"     

       "The point is this, then: You would like to have me for a son-in-law."     

       "Yes," said Mr. Blithers.     

       Robin grinned. He was amused in spite of himself. "You take it for granted that I can be bought?"     

       "I have not made any such statement."     

       "And how much will you hand over to the man of her choice when she marries him?" enquired the young man.     

       "You will be her choice," said the other, without the quiver of an eye-lash.     

       "How can you be sure of that? Has she no mind of her own?"     

       "It isn't incomprehensible that she should fall in love with you, is it?"     

       "It might be possible, of course, provided she is not already in love with some one else."     

       Mr. Blithers started. "Have you heard any one say that—but, that's nonsense! She's not in love with any one, take it from me. And just 

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