And bit by bit, while his expression grew interested, I told him all that I had heard. "It's animal, purely animal," I concluded. "And he doesn't know it." "By George! He's awakening, you think?" "I'm sure of it. She's leading him on, for the mere sport of the thing. It has been going on for four months now, almost every day. He's pretty desperate. She won't marry him. She doesn't love him. She loves nobody--but herself." "What will be the end of the matter?" he asked. I shrugged. "She'll throw him over when she debases him." "Debase--!" "Yes," I said wildly. "I tell you he thinks her an angel, Can't you see? A man doesn't learn that sort of thing--_her_ sort of thing--from the woman he loves. It's like hearing impurity from the lips of one's God! And you ask me if she's debasing him! Why, Jack, he's all ideals still. The world has taught him something, but he still holds fast to his childish faith in everyone." "Bless him! He does." And then, "What can I do, Pope?" "Nothing. I'm waiting. But I don't like his temper. It's dangerous. I think he's beginning to suspect her sincerity and when he finds out that she's still playing false with Channing Lloyd--then look out!" "You're going to tell him?" "No, he'll discover it. She's quite brazen." He was silent for a while. "Pope, you surprise me," he muttered at last. "The modern girls, I give them up. There's a name for this sort, perverted coquettes, '_teasers.'_ The man of the world abominates them, they're beneath contempt; but Jerry--No," he remarked with a shake of the head, "he wouldn't understand that." "And when he does?" "H--m!" His manner added no encouragement. "It would serve her jolly well right," he muttered cryptically in a moment. "What?" I asked. I think he understood Jerry now as well as I did. "Violence," he blurted out. "Ah! Then I'm not a fool. You agree with me." "I'm glad I'm not in Lloyd's shoes, that's all." We resumed our walk, turning back toward the Manor, and I told him of how matters stood with Jerry and Una. He had not met her, but he knew her history and was, I think, willing to accept her upon her face value. "But you can't match mere affection with that sort of witchcraft!" he said. "It's like trying to treat the hydrophobia with eau de Cologne. It can't be done, my boy. Your device does credit to your heart if not to your intelligence. She may come in a pretty bottle which exudes comforting odors but she's not for him." "You'll be pleasant to her, Jack? She's fond of Jerry, not in love with him, you know, but fond. And doesn't want to see him made a fool of any more than I do." I owed Una this. Whatever I thought of her feelings toward Jerry, even Jack had no right to be aware of them.