"Caesar, do you think it's a shabby thing to stay with a man you don't like?" "Are you going?" "I think so. I want to see how he does it." "Does what?" "Makes his money. Does it seem shabby to you?" "You can't know if you like him or not. You know nothing about him." "I shall be back at the end of the week. You don't mind my going, Caesar? I'd rather go before I settle down." "Another week's peace," returned Caesar, indifferently. "The truth is, you're in a scrape and putting off confession, young man." Christopher laughed at him. They were to leave early next morning, so Peter Masters bade Aymer good-bye that night. He apologised clumsily for taking Christopher away so soon after his long absence. "It's the only free week I've got for months, and I want to study your handiwork, Aymer." "Christopher has points. I don't know how many score to me," returned his cousin with steadily forced indifference. "Well, you've taken more trouble over him than most fathers would do." "Are you an expert?" Peter laughed grimly and stood looking at Aymer with his chin in his hand, a curiously characteristic attitude of doubt with him. "You won't be overpleased when he wants to marry, which he is sure to do just when he's become useful to you." For the first time in his life Peter Masters recognised the harassed soul of a man as it leapt to sight, and saw the shadow of pain conquer a fierce will. The revelation struck him dumb, for incongruously and unreasonably there flashed before his mind a memory of this face with twenty years wiped out. He went slowly away carrying with him a vivid impression and new knowledge. It was a new experience to him. He knew something of men's minds, but of their emotions and the passions of their souls he was no judge. He puzzled over the meaning of what he had seen as he faced Christopher in the train next day, studying him with a disconcerting gaze. Could Aymer possibly love the boy to the verge of jealousy? It seemed so incredible and absurd. Yet what other interpretation could he place on that look he had surprised? Charles Aston's words, which had not been without effect, paled before this self-revelation. It annoyed him greatly that the disturbing vision should intrude itself between him and the decision he was endeavouring to make, for the better termination of which he was carrying Christopher northward with him.