But that would not have made a “fair fight”? Perhaps not. Perhaps a fair fight was not to be made at all under the circumstances. But the one thing which, above all, I could not see was the old point that had puzzled me before. It might be fair to soften the conflict between Captain Fullard’s love and Captain Fullard’s duty as a man of ancient stock. It might be fair to undo some of fate’s work and give Nettie Tyler a chance of the man she wanted--freedom to fight for him--just that, you understand. But where came in the chance for herself of which Beatrice Gladwin had spoken? As I have said, I was Captain Fullard’s lawyer as well as Miss Gladwin’s, and he naturally came to me to transact the business incident on his marriage. Beatrice Gladwin proved right: he was not overwhelmed, nor, from his words, did I gather that Miss Tyler was. But they were both highly appreciative. The captain was also inclined to congratulate himself on his knowledge of character, his power of reading the human heart. “Hard, if you like,” he said, sitting in my office arm-chair; “but a sportsman in the end, as I told you she was. I knew one could rely on her doing the right thing in the end.” “At considerable cost,” I remarked, sharpening a pencil. “It’s liberal--very liberal. Oh, we feel that. But, of course, the circumstances pointed to liberality.” He paused, then added: “And I don’t know that we ought to blame her for taking time to think it over. Of course it made all the difference to me, Foulkes.” There came in the captain’s admirable candour. Between him and me there was no need--and, I may add, no room--for the romantic turn which the _Bittleton Press_ had given to the course of events; that was for public consumption only. “But for it I couldn’t possibly have come forward--whatever I felt.” “As a suitor for Miss Tyler’s hand?” said I. The captain looked at me; gradually a smile came on his remarkably comely face. “Look here, Foulkes,” said he very good-humouredly, “just you congratulate me on being able to do as I like. Never mind what you may happen to be thinking behind that sallow old fiddle-head of yours.” “And Miss Tyler is, I’m sure, radiantly happy?” Captain Fullard’s candour abode till the end. “Well, Nettie hasn’t done badly for herself, looking at it all round, you know.” With all respect to the late Sir Thomas, and even allowing for a terrible shock and a trying interval, I did not think she had. Miss Gladwin gave them a splendid wedding at Worldstone. Her manner to them both was most cordial, and she was gay beyond the wont of her staid demeanour. I do not think there was affectation in this.