"Don't you intend to hunt her up? 'Gad, I wouldn't miss a minute if I had a chance to be with a girl like that! And the other was no scarecrow. She is rather a beauty, too. Greatest town for pretty women I ever struck. Vienna is out of it entirely."
They strolled on to the hotel, discussing the encounter in all its exhilarating details. Scarcely had they seated themselves on the piazza, after partaking of a light luncheon, when a man came galloping up to the walk in front of the hotel. Throwing his bridle rein to a guard, he hastened to the piazza. His attire was that of a groom and something about him reminded them of the footman who sat beside the driver of the carriage they had seen a short time before. He came straight to where the Americans sat smoking and, bowing low, held before them an envelope. The address was "Grenfall Lorry Esq.," but the man was in doubt as to which was he.
Lorry grasped the envelope, tore it open, and drew forth a daintily written note. It read: "My Dear Mr. Lorry: "I was very much surprised to see you this morning--I may add that I was delighted. If you will accompany this messenger when he calls for you at three o'clock tomorrow afternoon, he will conduct you to my home, where I shall truly be charmed to see you again. Will you bring your friend?
"SOPHIA GUGGENSLOCKER."
Lorry could have embraced the messenger. There was a suspicion of breathlessness in his voice when he tried to say calmly to Harry: "An invitation for to-morrow."
"I knew it would come that way."
"Also wants you to come."
"Sha'n't I be in the way?"
"Not at all, my boy. I'll accept for you. After this fellow goes, I'll let you read the note. Wait until I write an answer."
Motioning for the man to remain, he hastened to his room, pulled out some stationery, and feverishly wrote: "My Dear Miss Guggenslocker: "I shall be delighted to accompany your messenger to-morrow, and my friend, Mr. Harry Anguish, will be with me. I have come half way across the continent to see you, and I shall be repaid if I am with you but for a moment. You will pardon me if I say that your name has caused me despair. No one seems to have heard it here, and I was beginning to lose hope. You may expect me at three, and I thank you for the pleasure you bestow.
"Yours sincerely, "GRENFALL LORRY."
This note, part of which had been written with misgiving, he gave to the messenger, who rode away quickly.