If Natalie had appeared at this moment, and said to him, “Dearest, let it be as my father wishes;” or if Lord Evelyn had frankly declared to him that it was his duty to surrender his possessions to this Society to which he had devoted his life, there would have been not a moment’s hesitation.  But now he was going to see a man whom he suspected and was inclined to hate, and his nature began to harden.  It would be a question between one man of the world and another.  Sentiment would be put aside.  He would no longer be played with.  A man should be master of his own affairs.

This was what he said to himself.  But he had quite forgotten his determination to consider this matter as if no Natalie existed; and his resolve to exclude sentiment altogether did not interfere with the fact that always, if unconsciously, there remained in his mind a certain picture he had been dreaming a good deal about of late.  It was a picture of an old-fashioned rose-garden in the light of an English summer morning, with a young wife walking there, herself taller and fairer than any flower.  Would she sing, in her gladness, the songs of other lands, to charm the sweet English air?  There was that one about O dolce Napoli!—­o suol beato!—­

When he got to Lisle Street, every one had arrived except Molyneux himself.  Mr. Lind was gravely polite to him.  Of course no mention could then be made about private affairs; the talk going on was all about the East, and how certain populations were faring.

Presently the pink-faced farmer-agitator was ushered in, looking a little bit alarmed.  But this frightened look speedily disappeared, and gave place to one of mild astonishment, as he appeared to recognize the faces of one or two of those in the room.  The business of the evening, so far as the brief formalities were concerned, was speedily got over, and five of the members of the small assembly immediately left.

“Now, Mr. Molyneux,” said Ferdinand Lind, pleasantly, “Mr. Brand and I have some small private matters to talk over:  will you excuse us if we leave you for a few minutes?  Here are some articles of our association which you may look over in the mean time.  May I trouble you to follow me, Mr. Brand?”

Brand followed him into an inner and smaller room, and sat down.

“You said you would have your mind made up to-day with regard to the proposal I put before you,” Mr. Lind observed, with a matter-of-fact air, as he drew in his chair to the small table.

Brand simply nodded, and said “Yes.”  He was measuring his man.  He thought his manner was a good deal too suave.

“But allow me to say, my dear Mr. Brand, that, as far I am concerned, there is no hurry.  Have you given yourself time?  It is a matter of moment; one should consider.”

“I have considered.”

His tone was firm:  one would have thought he had never had any hesitation at all.  But his decision had not been definitely arrived at until, some quarter of an hour before, he had met Ferdinand Lind face to face.