His brightest successes in the way of scheming had been matured out of chance acquaintanceships with eligible men.

A man who could afford such a luxury as a companion for his daughter must needs be eligible, and the Captain was not inclined to sacrifice his acquaintance from any extreme delicacy.
"My daughter seems to have made new friends for herself, and I should like to see what kind of people they are," he said conclusively.

"We'll look them up this evening, Val." Mr.George Sheldon dined at the Lawn on the day on which Horatio Paget determined on "looking up" his daughter's new friends, and he and the two girls were strolling in the garden when the Captain and Mr.
Hawkehurst were announced.

They had been told that Miss Paget was in the garden.
"Be good enough to take me straight to her," said the Captain to the boy in buttons; "I am her father." Horatio Paget was too old a tactician not to know that by an unceremonious plunge into the family circle he was more likely to secure an easy footing in the household than by any direct approach of the master.

He had seen the little group in the garden, and had mistaken George for the head of the house.
Diana turned from pale to red, and from red to pale again, as she recognised the two men.