"I probably understand them better than anyone." "Then I dismiss further responsibility. I'm really more pleased than I can say, Christopher. Poor little Patricia! What fortune for her!" "You clearly understand there won't be any fortune?" persisted the other bluntly. "Oh, Peter's fortune? Of course not. Where's the obligation? I'll go and tell Renata." He strolled off and Christopher hurried to the West Room, where he found Aymer and Mr. Aston waiting expectantly. Christopher came to a standstill by the fireplace and to his amazement found his hands shaking. He had never imagined there would be any difficulty in this interview, yet he found himself unaccountably at a loss before these two men. The absurdly inadequate idea that they might consider it unjustifiable greed in him to grasp so great a prize as Patricia Connell when they had already given him so much assailed him. Both men were aware of his unusual embarrassment and neither of them made the slightest attempt to help him out, for Mr. Aston had a very fair idea of what had happened, and had conveyed his suspicions to Aymer. They both found a certain amusing fascination in seeing how he would deal with the situation, and it was a situation so pleasing to them both that they failed to realise it might present real difficulties to him. He faced them suddenly, and plunged into the matter in his usual direct way. "Caesar and St. Michael, I've something to tell you both. I am not sure if it will be news to you or not, but Patricia has said she will marry me." He came to an abrupt stop, and turned away again towards the fire. "It's very good news," said Mr. Aston quietly, "if in no way surprising." "You don't think I'm asking too much when I've had so much given me? I feel abominably greedy." "You might think of me in the matter," protested Aymer, plaintively. "What on earth does it matter if you are greedy so long as you provide me with a real interest in life. I began to think you meant to defraud me of my clear rights." A very grateful Christopher crossed the room and took his usual seat on the sofa. "I've been a blind idiot," he admitted, "or rather an idle one. I've known for years it must be Patricia, and left it at that." "Why?" demanded Aymer. But that he could not or would not tell them. Mr. Aston then suggested Christopher should explain what he meant to do concerning his inheritance. "Which you have treated so far with scandalous disrespect," put in Aymer. "I can't touch it. It would be treason to--to my mother. And I don't want it. I hate it, the way it's done, the caring for it."