Vanstone. Don't let me seem inhospitable;
but the sooner you can supply me with my materials, the better I
shall be pleased. We entirely understand each other, I suppose? Having
accepted your proposal for my niece's hand, I sanction a private
marriage in consideration of the circumstances on your side. A little
harmless stratagem is necessary to forward your views. I invent the
stratagem at your request, and you make use of it without the least
hesitation. The result is, that in ten days from to-morrow Mrs. Lecount
will be on her way to Switzerland; in fifteen days from to-morrow Mrs.
Lecount will reach Zurich, and discover the trick we have played her; in
twenty days from to-morrow Mrs. Lecount will be back at Aldborough,
and will find her master's wedding-cards on the table, and her master
himself away on his honey-moon trip. I put it arithmetically, for the
sake of putting it plain. God bless you. Good-morning!"
"I suppose I may have the happiness of seeing Miss Bygrave to-morrow?"
said Noel Vanstone, turning round at the door.
"We must be careful," replied Captain Wragge. "I don't forbid to-morrow,
but I make no promise beyond that. Permit me to remind you that we have
got Mrs.
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