"Austen wouldn't join Mr. Crewe in his little game, anyway," he said. "When Ham Tooting, Crewe's manager, came to him he kicked him downstairs." Victoria burst out laughing. "I constantly hear of these ferocious deeds which Mr. Vane commits," she said, "and yet he seems exceptionally good-natured and mild-mannered." "That's straight--he kicked him downstairs. Served Tooting right, too." "There does seem to have been an element of justice in it," Victoria remarked. "You haven't seen Austen since he left his father?" Mr. Gaylord inquired. "Left him! Where--has he gone?" "Gone up to live with Jabe Jenney. If Austen cared anything about money, he never would have broken with the old man, who has some little put away." "Why did he leave his father?" asked Victoria, not taking the trouble now to conceal her interest. "Well," said Tom, "you know they never did get along. It hasn't been Austen's fault--he's tried. After he came back from the West he stayed here to please old Hilary, when he might have gone to New York and made a fortune at the law, with his brains. But after Austen saw the kind of law the old man practised he wouldn't stand for it, and got an office of his own." Victoria's eyes grew serious. "What kind of law does Hilary Vane practise?" she asked. Tom hesitated and began to mop his forehead again. "Please don't mind me," Victoria pleaded. "Well, all right," said Tom, "I'll tell you the truth, or die for it. But I don't want to make you-unhappy." "You will do me a kindness, Mr. Gaylord," she said, "by telling me what you believe to be true." There was a note in her voice which young Tom did not understand. Afterwards, when he reflected about the matter, he wondered if she were unhappy. "I don't want to blame Hilary too much," he answered. "I know Austen don't. Hilary's grown up with that way of doing things, and in the old days there was no other way. Hilary is the chief counsel for the Northeastern, and he runs the Republican organization in this State for their benefit. But Austen made up his mind that there was no reason why he should grow up that way. He says that a lawyer should keep to his profession, and not become a lobbyist in the interest of his clients. He lived with the old man until the other day, because he has a real soft spot for him. Austen put up with a good deal. And then Hilary turned loose on him and said a lot of things he couldn't stand. Austen didn't answer, but went up and packed his bags and made Hilary's housekeeper promise to stay with him, or she'd have left, too. They say Hilary's sorry, now. He's fond of Austen, but he can't get along with him." "Do--Do you know what they quarreled about?" asked Victoria, in a low voice.