"I could not help it, dear; it was absolutely necessary that I should see

you."

 

"But it is of no use, Harry."

 

"I consider that it is of particular use, Hilda."

 

"But you know, Harry, when you had that very unpleasant talk with my

father, I was called in, and said that I had promised to wait two years

for you. When he found that I would not give way, he promised that he

would not press me, on the understanding that we were not to meet again

except in public, and I all but promised."

 

"Quite so, dear; but it appears to me that this is surely a public place."

 

"No, no, Harry; what he meant was that I was not to meet you except at

parties."

 

"Well, I should have asked you to meet me to-day even if I had had to

storm your father's house to see you. I am going away, dear, and he could

scarcely say much if he came along and found us talking here. You see, it

was not likely that I should stumble across a fortune in the streets of

London. I have talked the matter over with Barnett--you know our trustee,

you have met him once or twice--and we came to the conclusion that the

only possible chance of my being able to satisfy your father as to my

means, was for me to go to Peru and try to discover a gold mine there or

hidden treasure. Such discoveries have been made, and may be made again;

and he has supplied me with a letter to an Indian, who may possibly be

able to help me."

 

"To Peru, Harry! Why, they are always fighting there."

 

"Yes, they do a good deal of squabbling, but the people in general have

little to do with it; and certainly I am not going out to take any part in

their revolutions. There is not a shadow of doubt that a number of gold

mines worked by the old people were never discovered by the Spaniards, and

it is also certain that a great portion of the treasures of the Incas is

still lying hid. Barnett saved the life of a muleteer out there, and from

what he said he believed that the man did know something about one of

these lost mines, and might possibly let me into the secret. It is just an

off chance, but it is the only chance I can see. You promised your father

that you would never marry without his consent, and he would never give it

unless I were a rich man. If nothing comes of this adventure I shall be no

worse off than I am at present. If I am fortunate enough to discover a

rich mine or a hidden treasure, I shall be in a position to satisfy his

demand. I am going to take Bertie with me; he will be a cheerful

companion, and even now he is a powerful young fellow. At any rate, if I

get sick or anything of that sort, it would be an immense advantage to