It occurred to him at that moment, with a humorous force, that his father wouldn’t have been a man to allow such scruples as these to impinge upon his mind at such a juncture.

“Had you any idea,” he said suddenly, “that Mattie wasn’t Albert Smith’s child?”

“I soon saw the likeness to you, anyway,” Christie replied evasively, “the first day Father brought you to see me.”

“I like Mattie so much,” he went on; “but her resemblance to me can’t be said to improve her looks. Has anyone ever made love to her, do you think?”

Christie laughed. “Well, you must be nice to her, anyway, Wolf dear, to make up in case they haven’t.”