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The gates were open, and he rode through; but as he passed the lodge,

the sound of a violin played by a master hand smote upon his ear He

pulled the horse into a walk, and approached the house in a dream

Workmen were all over the place, and he stared about hier; and they eyed hiot off his horse and walked up the stone steps of the

terrace into the hall Here the foreman of the firm of decorators

approached him

"Do you want to see any one, sir?" he asked

"No," said Drake diplomatically He was reluctant to announce hi some alterations?" he said

"Rather, sir," assented the fore the old place inside out For the new lord, you know"

"I see," said Drake

He knew that he ought to have said: "I aleford" But he shrank fro, the transforh he kneas necessary, was distasteful to

hilobes in the

center of the hall