“Just at present that must remain a secret,” said the other.  He came from the door and, unbidden, followed the captain into the room again.

“What do you want to visit at my house for?” inquired the latter, in a forbidding voice.

“To see your daughter,” said Hardy.

The captain had a relapse.  He had not expected a truthful answer, and, when it came, in the most matter-of-fact tone, it found him quite unprepared.  His first idea was to sacrifice his dignity and forcibly eject his visitor, but more sensible thoughts prevailed.

“You are quite sure, I suppose, that your visits would be agreeable to my daughter?” he said, contemptuously.

Hardy shook his head.  “I should come ostensibly to see you,” he said, cheerfully; “to smoke a pipe with you.”

“Smoke!” stuttered the captain, explosively; “smoke a pipe with ME?”

“Why not?” said the other.  “I am offering you my services, and anything that is worth having is worth paying for.  I suppose we could both smoke pipes under pleasanter conditions.  What have you got against me?  It isn’t my fault that you and my father have quarrelled.”

“I don’t want anything more to say to you,” said the captain, sternly.  “I’ve shown you the door once.  Am I to take forcible measures?”

Hardy shrugged his broad shoulders.  “I am sorry,” he said, moving to the door again.

“So am I,” said the other.

“It’s a pity,” said Hardy, regretfully.  “It’s the chance of a lifetime.  I had set my heart on fooling Kybird and Smith, and now all my trouble is wasted.  Nathan Smith would be all the better for a fall.”

The captain hesitated.  His visitor seemed to be confident, and he would have given a great deal to prevent his son’s marriage and a great deal to repay some portion of his debt to the ingenious Mr. Smith.  Moreover, there seemed to be an excellent opportunity of punishing the presumption of his visitor by taking him at his word.

“I don’t think you’d enjoy your smoking here much,” he said, curtly.

“I’ll take my chance of that,” said the other.  “It will only be a matter of a few weeks, and then, if I am unsuccessful, my visits cease.”

“And if you’re successful, am I to have the pleasure of your company for the rest of my life?” demanded the captain.

“That will be for you to decide,” was the reply.  “Is it a bargain?”

The captain looked at him and deliberated.  “All right.  Mondays and Thursdays,” he said, laconically.

Hardy saw through the ruse, and countered.

“Now Swann is ill I can’t always get away when I wish,” he said, easily.  “I’ll just drop in when I can.  Good day.”

He opened the door and, fearful lest the other should alter his mind at the last moment, walked briskly down the path to the gate.  The captain stood for some time after his departure deep in thought, and then returned to the garden to be skilfully catechized by Miss Nugent.