"It is not necessary to remind you that she is a child of love," said Droom, "That's the genteel way to put it." "It's not like you to be genteel, Elias. Still," and he sat down and leaned forward eagerly, "she has good blood from both sides." "Yes--the so-called best." "You speak as if you know the truth." "I think--yes, I'm sure I know. I have known for twenty years, Mr. Bansemer. I had the same means as you of finding out whose child she was." "That's more than Mrs. Cable knows." "She did not take the trouble to investigate. It's too late now." "I don't believe you really know the names of her father and mother," said Bansemer shrewdly. "You are trying to trick me into telling you what I DO know." "There are portraits of her ancestors hanging in Fifth Avenue," said Droom promptly. "Here," and he picked up a pencil, "I'll write the initials of the two persons responsible for her existence. You do the same and we'll see that they tally." He quickly scratched four letters on a pad of paper. Bansemer hesitated and then slowly wrote the initials on the back of an envelope. Without a word they exchanged the papers. After a moment they both smiled in relief. Neither had been tricked. The initials were identical. "I imagine the ancestors hanging in Fifth Avenue would be amazed if they knew the story of Jane," said Droom, with a chuckle. "I doubt it, Droom. Ancestors have stories, too, and they hide them." "Well, she isn't the only girl who doesn't know." "I dare say. It isn't a wise world." "It's a lucky one. That's why it assumes to be decent." "You are quite a cynic, Elias." "By the way, now that your son is to marry her, I'd like to know just what your game is." Bansemer turned on him like a tiger, his steely eyes blazing. "Game? There is no game, damn you. Listen to me, Droom; we'll settle this now. I'm a bad man, but I've tried to be a good father. People have called me heartless. So be it. But I love that boy of mine. What little heart I have belongs to him. There can be no game where he is concerned. Some day, perhaps, he'll find out the kind of a man I've been to others, but can always remember that I was fair and honest with him. He'll despise my methods and he'll spurn my money, but he'll have to love me. Jane Cable is not the girl I would have chosen for him, but she is good and true and he loves her." For the first time in his life Elias Droom shrank beneath the eyes of his master. He hated James Bansemer from the bottom, of his wretched soul, but he could not but feel, at this moment, a touch of admiration.