Gertie Heckett, Josh’s pretty daughter, was at the bottom of it. Gurth fancied that it was a vulgar amour, and nothing more. He let it run its course, seeing in it only one more link in the chain that bound Ralph Egerton to evil company. But one day Ralph, who had been sober for a month, broke out badly, and grew quarrelsome. Gurth kept his temper and refused to quarrel. It didn’t suit him to part company with Ralph. One day he came suddenly upon Gertie at Ralph’s house in St. John’s Wood. The girl was coming out white-faced and red-eyed as Gurth want in. He questioned the servant. The young woman had come there in great trouble, and said she must see Mr. Egerton at once. Mr. Egerton had seen her, and there had been high words. She had gone away crying. That was all the servant could say. That afternoon Gurth ‘tapped’ Ralph on the subject, and Ralph resented it. He was still under the influence of a long drinking bout, and his tongue was unguarded. In his rage he taunted Gurth with hanging about and waiting for him to die, that he might have his money. ‘You’re murdering me, you devil!’ he shouted, his face distorted with passion. ‘You’re murdering me in your slimy serpent way, you know you are! You want me to drink myself to death, don’t you? But I’ll do you yet, my fine scheming gentleman.’ ‘You’re drunk,’ answered Gurth, biting his lip, ‘or you wouldn’t speak to me like that.’ ‘I’m sober enough to tear the mask from your ugly face!’ shouted Ralph; ‘and you can retire from business. Your game’s up. You’ll never have a penny of my money, you sneak—not a penny!’ ‘What do you mean?’ said Gurth, hoarsely. ‘I mean that I have played a trump card, and that you can spare yourself any further trouble on my behalf, Mr. Gurth Egerton. I’m married!’ ‘You lie, you drunken fool!’ cried Gurth, springing up and seizing him by the arm. Ralph shook him off. ‘Touch me again,’ he shouted, ‘and I’ll have you kicked out of the house, you dirty adventurer! Gertie put me up to your tricks. Gertie’s a good girl, and I’ve married Gertie. There now! how do you like it?’ For a moment Gurth stood staring in blank surprise at the drunken man. Was this truth, or was it a tipsy boast? With a supreme effort he conquered his anger, and sat down quietly opposite his cousin. ‘I congratulate you, Ralph,’ he said; ‘you might have done much worse.’ ‘Damn your compliments!’ muttered Ralph, reaching across to the brandy bottle, and pouring out half a tumblerful. ‘Keep ‘em! I married Gertie to settle your hash. We’ve been married six months, and to-morrow I’m going to make it public. She’s a jolly good girl,’ he added, with a maudlin softness in his voice, ‘and it’s my duty to let her position be known. She’s my lawful wife, Gurth Egerton, and you can say good-bye to my money, old fellow. Better luck next time.’ With which compliment Ralph tossed off the brandy, and rolled his eyes about more wildly than ever.