"
"Do. By the preliminary crisis I suppose you mean the engagement."
"Certainly. I shall use every effort to bring that off this afternoon.
Now that I know you're as keen on it as I am myself, I think I may
pledge you my word that it will come off this afternoon. But, if so, I
must leave you now. Good-bye."
CHAPTER XXII.
It was nearly twelve o'clock when Meldon left Sir Gilbert Hawkesby. He
walked rapidly down to Ballymoy House, and seized his bicycle. Miss
King, who had been watching for him, ran out and invited him to stay
for luncheon. Meldon excused himself briefly on the plea of really
urgent business.
"But can't you spare us even an hour?" said Miss King persuasively.
Meldon sprang into the saddle. It was his custom to mount from the
pedal, and on this occasion the pedal came off.
"Now," said Miss King, "your bicycle is broken and you must stay."
"It's Doyle's bicycle," he said. "I wouldn't own a machine like this.
My temper would wear thin in a week if I did."
He turned the bicycle upside down, and set to work vigorously with a
wrench.
"If," said Meldon, "my business were my own--that's to say, if I were
acting in my private capacity for my own interests--I should let the
whole thing slide at once.
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