262 GARRYOWEN 



" Well," said Bobby, in a cheerful voice. " How 

 are you getting along? Been asleep, hey? Now, 

 look here, I want you to come out to dinner with 

 me." 



" Right you are," said Mr Giveen, rubbing his 

 eyes. "I'm with you — hay yow! I'm half 

 moidhered with all me travelHng. And what's 

 become of Miss What's-her-name? " 



" She — oh, we're going to meet her at dinner. 

 She's gone on in her motor car." 



" So she keeps a motor car, does she? " said Mr 

 Giveen, rising and pulling down his waistcoat. 



"Rather! She keeps two. Why, she has 

 half-a-milHon of money of her own. And look 

 here," said the artful Bobby, " I'm only taking 

 you to dinner with her on one condition." 



" And what's that? " 



" Well, I'm rather sweet on her myseM, do you 

 see—" 



" Oh! faith, you may trust me," said Mr Giveen, 

 in high good spirits. " I'm not a marrying man, 

 or I'd have been snapped up years ago, musha! 

 But oughtn't I to go back to me hotel for a black 

 coat? " 



" Oh, you won't want any black coats where 

 we're going to," said Bobby, with grim jocularity. 

 " They are most unconventional people. But, 

 maybe, you'd like to wash your hands. This is 

 my bedroom." 



He ushered his guest into the bedroom and left 

 him there. When he returned to the sitting-room 



