Wrayson watched him leave the club and step into a hansom. He walked a little more slowly than usual, his head was a little bent, and he passed a club acquaintance in the hall without his customary greeting. Wrayson retraced his steps and ascended towards the billiard-room, with his first enthusiasm a little damped. Was his errand, he wondered, so grievously distasteful to his old friend, or was the Colonel losing at last the magnificent elasticity and vigour which had kept him so long independent of the years? There were others besides Wrayson who noticed a certain alteration in the Colonel when he re-entered the billiard-room an hour or so later. His usual greeting was unspoken, he sank a little heavily into a chair, and he called for a drink without waiting for some one to share it with him. They gathered round him sympathetically. "Feeling the heat a bit, Colonel?" "Anything wrong downstairs?" The Colonel recovered himself promptly. He beamed upon them all affectionately, and set down an empty tumbler with a little sigh of satisfaction. "I'm all right, boys," he declared. "I couldn't find a cab--had to walk further than I meant, and I wanted a drink badly. Wrayson, come over here. I want to talk to you." Wrayson sat down by his side. "I've done the best I could," the Colonel said. "Things may not come all right for you quite at once, but within a week I fancy it'll be all squared up. I've found out why she refused to marry you, and you can take my word for it that within a week the cause will be removed." "You're a brick, Colonel," Wrayson declared heartily. "There's only one thing more I'd love to have you to tell me." "I'm afraid--" the Colonel began. "That you and Louise were reconciled," Wrayson declared. "Colonel, there can't be anything between you two, of all the people in the world, there can't be anything sufficient to keep you and her, father and daughter, completely apart." "You are quite right, Wrayson," the Colonel assented, a little more cheerfully. "Well, you may find that all will come right very soon now. By the by, I've been talking to the Baroness. I want you to let me be at your rooms to-morrow night." Wrayson hesitated for a moment. "You know how we stand?" he asked. "Exactly," the Colonel answered. "I only wish that I had known before. You will have no objection to my coming, I suppose?" "None at all," Wrayson declared. "But, Colonel! there is one more question that I must ask you. Did Louise speak to you about her brother?" The Colonel nodded. "She blamed me, of course," he said slowly, "because I had never told her. It was his own desire, and I think that he was right. I have telegraphed for him to come over. He will be here to-night or to-morrow." Wrayson left the club, feeling almost light-hearted. It was the old story over again--the Colonel to the rescue! CHAPTER XL BLACKMAIL