Old Heckett was another of his _bètes noires_, but he was civil to him for the sake of peace. Now and again, during the years that had elapsed since Ralph’s death, Heckett had come for a loan, pretending he was hard up, and he had had it; but the old man had been given pretty plainly to understand that if he took liberties things might be made uncomfortable for him. The balance of power was certainly on Birnie’s side in Heckett’s case. The relative position of the men left the one completely master of the other. But, with regard to Marston, Birnie knew positively nothing, except that he had left the country in a hurry and gone to America, where it was fondly hoped he had broken his neck long ago. When, at the interview in which he requested an introduction to Grigg and Limpet, Marston mentioned his intention of looking up Egerton, Birnie was vexed. He had very good reasons for wishing to keep Egerton away from Marston’s influence if he wanted to retain his own. More than that, he feared that Marston might have designs upon Egerton’s banking account, and he determined, if possible, to stop the meeting. Marston, however, had been too quick for him. He had seen Gurth, and had a long chat with him before Birnie arrived. The doctor was agreeably surprised to find that no money had been asked for. On the contrary, Marston had informed his former comrade that he had been remarkably lucky, was doing well, and hoped to permanently establish himself in this country. His ambition was to make a fortune as financier, and eventually enter Parliament and shine in the political world. When Egerton told Birnie this the latter was honestly astonished. He had expected Marston to represent himself as poor and unfortunate, and make a demand for substantial help. He listened open mouthed to Gurth’s narrative, but offered no remark. However astonished Birnie might be, he never confessed it. For a man to be astonished is for him to see or hear something unexpected. Birnie prided himself upon being prepared for anything that might happen. The next best thing to having any gift or virtue is to pretend to have it. Birnie owed much of his later success in life to constantly bearing this maxim in mind. Marston’s interview with Gurth Egerton had a great effect, though it was quite contrary to what Birnie had supposed it would be. For years Egerton had wavered, unable to decide upon any course in life. Suddenly the ambitious views of an old comrade opened out a new vista before him. Here was a man who had led a roving life, who had been under a cloud for years—a man whom Egerton had known to be in the very depths of poverty—here was this adventurer, Edward Marston, without fortune and without position, boldly aiming at both, and not hesitating to aspire to political fame. If Marston could do all this with no advantages, what could not he, Gurth Egerton, do with the money at his command?