"Poor Robert!" muttered Sir Humphrey. "Master's very much distressed about her, gentlemen. Miss Renee is a very great favourite of his." "Is my uncle awake, do you think?" "I think so, sir," was the reply. "Ask him if he will say a few words to my father and me. Tell him we are in great trouble." The little man bowed and went upstairs, returning at the end of a minute or two to request them to walk up. "Last time I was here," thought Dick, "I asked him for a couple of tenners, and he told me never to come near him again. A stingy old hunks! But, there, he's kind to the girls." The little panel opened as Vidler closed the door, and Sir Humphrey, looking very old, and grey of hair and face, sat looking at it, leaving his son to open the conversation. "Well, Humphrey, what is it?" said the voice behind the wainscoting. "How do you do, Bob?" began the old gentleman. "I--I--Richard, my boy, tell your uncle; I'm too weak and upset." "We're in great trouble, uncle," began Dick sharply. "Yes, I know," said the voice. "Renee has fled to me for protection from her husband. You did well amongst you. Poor child!" "Hang it all, uncle, don't talk like that!" cried Dick impetuously. "You ought to know that we had nothing to do with it. Help us; don't scold us." "I am helping you," said the Captain. "Renee stays here with me till she can be sure of a happy home. And, look here," he continued, growing in firmness, "she has told me everything. If you are a man, you will call out anyone who dares say a word against her fame." "It's all very well, uncle," said Dick; "but this is 18--, and not your young days. No one has a word to say against Renee. But look here, uncle, that isn't all. Gertrude has gone off." "With John Huish, of course. Ah, Humphrey, how strangely Fate works her ways!" "But, uncle, they say John Huish has turned out an utter swindler and scamp. Last thing I heard was that he had been expelled from his club." "Let them talk," said Captain Millet quietly. "I say it cannot be true." "But, Bob," faltered Sir Humphrey weakly, "they do make out a very bad case against him." "Then you and your boy can take up the cudgels on his behalf. He is son and brother now. There, I am weary. Go." "But Renee--we must see her." "No; let the poor girl rest. When you can find her a decent home, if she wishes it, she can come." The little wicket was closed with a sharp snap, and father and son gazed at each other in the gloomy room. "Come back home, Dick," said Sir Humphrey feebly. "And take warning, my boy: be a bachelor. Ladies in every shape and form are a great mistake." Dick Millet thought of the glowing charms of Clotilde and Marie Dymcox, but he said nothing, only hinted to his father that he ought to give Vidler a sovereign; and this done, they went back into the cab. Half an hour later they were back in the room where Frank Morrison lay talking wildly in a loud, husky voice.