E. Phillips Oppenheim

“ Coulson, his host, shook his head.
"Not the ghost of a chance, my dear fellow. The county people don't even tolerate old Smith; he's such a beastly cad."
"No bad language about my future father-in-law, please," said the young man, with a grim smile.
"Future father-in-law! What rubbish! Why, you've never spoken a word to the girl in your life, and never saw her before this morning. You're a pretty cool hand, I must say, Escott, if you're not joking." ”

“ Grryce and Miss Smith dismounted and entered a large barn. The latter beckoned her groom to follow suit.
"Oh, hang it! there's no room for that fellow!" exclaimed Mr. Gryce roughly; "a wetting won't hurt him. Here, my man, here's half-a-crown for you. Go on to the village and wait for us. Don't get drunk, mind."
Dick hesitated; then an appealing glance from his young mistress decided him. He rode up to Mr. Gryce, solemnly pocketed the half-crown, and, turning round, rode away. ”

“ The old man is a Tartar, and the girl isn't the sort you could scrape an acquaintance with unceremoniously in the hunting-field. I ought to be able to help you here, but I can't. You see, my wife never dreamt of calling. I'd have made her if I'd known about this before; but it's too late now."
"I've laid my own plans, thank you," said Captain Escott quietly. "Now listen to me carefully. There isn't the slightest chance of getting even an introduction by ordinary means, so I'm going to try extraordinary ones. Old Smith wants a groom. ”

“ Some men are woefully misrepresented. Old Smith was no Tartar, after all. That same afternoon, having resumed his ordinary dress. Captain Escott called upon him, and in a frank, straightforward manner told him the whole truth.
To his unspeakable amazement, his prospective father-in-law, after listening to his recital in solemn silence, burst into a roar of hearty laughter.
"You shall have her, my boy, for your pluck!" he said, slapping the young officer on the back. "I like your face, and I like the way you've made a clean breast of it all. Gryce can go to the deuce! ”

“ How dare you lay your dirty hands on a gentleman!"
The passion died out of Dick's eyes as he surveyed the mean-looking object who stood before him shaking with impotent rage, and he smiled.
"A what?" he inquired.
Mr. Gryce stamped his foot in a paroxysm of blind rage.
"If you were only my equal," he burst out, "instead of a low blackguard of a groom——"
"I should be very sorry to be your equal, Mr. er-Gryce," said Dick coolly. "I am a gentleman, however, and shall be happy to pass over our inequality and give you any satisfaction you desire. There is my card—Captain Escott, 4th Dragoons ”

“ But she inherits three thousand pounds a year from her mother, independent of old Smith. I found that out. He's kept it from her, and Burditt only came to know of it by accident, through having a nephew in Somerset House. Of course, she's bound to know when she comes of age, next month; so I haven't much time to lose. I must be engaged to her before then."
Mr. Coulson's interest in his friend's infatuation increased wonderfully when he had digested this piece of news.
"It wouldn't be at all a bad thing for you, Dick, my boy," he acknowledged; "you must marry money, and soon. ”

“ Old Smith is different from most of the retired City men. He doesn't care a fig for society or the aristocracy. Snaps his fingers at us and says he ain't going to have any fine gentleman dangling after his daughter's money-bags.' He means to marry her to a man named Gryce, who took his business in the City. ”

“ If you're quite sure that you won't come to Lady Malvern's—they're awfully hard up for men, and would be charmed to see you—I must go, for the brougham's round, and my wife hates being kept waiting. I'll come round to your room and smoke a cigar with you when I get back, if you like. ”

“ And just have my traps put together and sent to Burditt at Saddington Hall by someone whom you can trust."
"All right, old man—and good luck!"
The new groom was duly installed at Saddington Hall and gave great satisfaction. Fortune favours the rash sometimes, and it favoured Dick Escott in this mad escapade. On the first evening of his arrival. Miss Smith's favourite hunter, Lizette, had a fit in the stable. A veterinary from Harborough pronounced the case hopeless, and word was sent in to Miss Smith that her favourite must be shot. ”

“ I daresay you think I'm in a pretty mess to start love-making. Heigho! I don't care. Duns and writs may take care of themselves—worrying about them won't pay them, will it? and I must get to know that girl. ”