"Ah! Then I am right. I have been thinking. Cessation from society duties is at least restful. Last night, lying awake and wondering where you were, my thoughts reverted to that girl. I remembered her face. All at once a long-forgotten chord of memory hummed its note. Twenty years ago, when you were a little boy, Rex, I met a Mrs. Marchbanks. She was a sweet singer. Does your Winifred sing?" Carshaw drew his chair closer to his mother and placed an arm around her shoulder. "Yes," he said. "Rex," she murmured brokenly, hiding her face, "do you forgive me?" "Mother, I ask you to forgive me if I said harsh things." There was silence for a while. Then she raised her eyes. They were wet, but smiling. "This Mrs. Marchbanks," she went on bravely, "had your Winifred's face. She was wealthy and altogether charming. Her husband, too, was a gentleman. She was a ward of the elder Meiklejohn, the present Senator's father. My recollection of events is vague, but there was some scandal in Burlington." "I know all, or nearly all, about it. That is why I was called to Vermont. Mother, in future, you will work with me, not against me?" "I will--indeed I will," she sobbed. "Then you must not drop your car. I have money to pay for that. Keep in with Helen Tower, and find out what hold she has on Meiklejohn. You are good at that, you know. You understand your quarry. You will be worth twenty detectives. First, discover where Meiklejohn is. He has bolted, or shut himself up." "You must trust me fully, or I shall not see the pitfalls. Tell me everything." He obeyed. Before he had ended, Mrs. Carshaw was weeping again, but this time it was out of sympathy with Winifred. Next morning, although it was Sunday, her smart limousine took her to the Tower's house. Mrs. Tower was at home. "I have heard dreadful things about you, Sarah," she purred. "What on earth is the matter? Why have you given up your place on Long Island?" "A whim of Rex's, my dear. He is still infatuated over that girl." "She must have played her cards well." "Yes, indeed. One does not look for such skill in the lower orders. And how she deceived me! I went to see her, and she promised better behavior. Now I find she has gone again, and Rex will not tell me where she is. Do you know?" "I? The creature never enters my mind." "Of course not. She does not interest you, but I am the boy's mother, and you cannot imagine, Helen, how this affair worries me." "My poor Sarah! It is too bad." "Such a misfortune could not have happened had his father lived. We women are of no use where a headstrong man is concerned. I am thinking of consulting Senator Meiklejohn. He is discreet and experienced." "But he is not in town." "What a calamity! Do tell me where I can find him." "I have reason to know that Rex would not brook any interference from him."