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"W'at's eatin' you? Is they an answer?"
"They ain't no answer," P. Sybarite admitted.
"Well, whatcha want? I got no time to stick round here kiddin'."
"One moment of your valuable time. I believe you delivered a message at the Monastery Apartments in Forty-third Street this morning."
"Well, an' what 'f I did?"
"Only this."
P. Sybarite extracted an immense roll of bills from his pocket; transferred it to his other hand; delved deeper; eventually produced a single twenty-dollar gold-piece.
"Take this," he said, tossing it to the boy with princely nonchalance.
"It's the last of a lot, but--it's yours."
"What for?" Western Union demanded in amaze; while, as for George Bross, _he_ developed plain symptoms of apoplexy.
"You'll never know," said P. Sybarite. "Now run along before I come to."
In the shadow of this threat, Western Union fled precipitately....
P. Sybarite rose; yawned; smiled benignantly upon George Bross.
"I'm off to bed--was only waiting for this message," he announced; "but before I go--tell me; how much money does Violet think you ought to be earning before you're eligible for the Matrimonial Stakes?"
"She said somethin' oncet about fifty per," George remembered gloomily.
"It's yours--doubled," P. Sybarite told him. "To-morrow you will resign from the employ of Whigham & Wimper and go to Blessington's to enter their s.h.i.+pping department at a hundred a week; and if you don't earn it, may G.o.d have mercy on your wretched soul!"
George got up very suddenly.
"I'll go send for the doctor," he announced.
"One moment more." P. Sybarite dropped a detaining hand upon his arm.
"You and Violet are invited to dinner to-night--at the Hotel Plaza.
Don't be alarmed; you needn't dress; we'll dine privately in Marian's apartment."
"Marian!"
"Miss Blessington--Molly Lessing that was."
"Honest!" said George sincerely. "I don't know whether to think you've gone bughouse or not. You've always been a bit queer and foolish in the bean, but never since I've known you--"
"And after dinner," P. Sybarite pursued evenly, "you're going to attend a very quiet little wedding party."
"Whose, for G.o.d's sake?"
"Marian's and mine; and the only reason why you can't be best man is that the best man will be my cousin, Peter Kenny."
"Is that straight?"
"On the level."
George concluded that there was sanity in P. Sybarite's eyes.
"Well, I certainly got to slip you the congrats!" he protested. "And say--you goin' to bounce Whigham and Wimper, too?"
"Yes."
"And whatcha goin' do then?"
"I? To tell you the truth, I'm considering joining the Union and agitating for an eight-hour Day of Days. This one of mine has been eighteen hours long, more or less--since I got those theatre tickets, you know--and I'm too dog-tired to keep my eyes open another minute.
After I've had a nap, I'll tell you all about everything." ...
But he wasn't too tired to read his telegram, when he found himself again, and for the last time, in his hall bedroom.
It said simply: "I love you.--Marian."
From this P. Sybarite looked up to his reflection in the gla.s.s. And presently he smiled sheepishly, and blinked.
"Perceval...!" murmured the little man fondly.
THE END
BY LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
THE DAY OF DAYS
THE DESTROYING ANGEL
THE BANDBOX
CYNTHIA-OF-THE-MINUTE
NO MAN'S LAND
THE FORTUNE HUNTER
THE POOL OF FLAME
THE BRONZE BELL
