“He lied when he said it. He never had anything to do with me. He and his gang were too busy high-rolling to bother with a fellow who was there just to study painting. He had a pocketful of money and-- Why, Esther, if you knew half of the stories I have heard about him you wouldn’t like him any better than I do.” “What sort of stories?” “Oh--well, I’m not going to tell them to you. They aren’t stories you ought to hear.” “Do you know they are true?” “Why shouldn’t they be true? Everybody said--” “I don’t care what every one said. People say all sorts of things, especially when they are envious of other people. Do you know they were true?” “No-o. At least I never _saw_ anything out of the way, if that is what you mean. Why should I? I never was invited to any of his--parties. He hadn’t any use for me; I told you that.” “Yes, you did tell me. You didn’t like him then and you don’t like him now and so, because you don’t like him, you sit here and hint--hint at things that, for all you know, may have been just mean gossip without a word of truth behind them. Rich people are always gossiped about. I have lived with Uncle Foster long enough to learn that.... Bob, if you can’t prove anything against Mr. Covell I think it would be much better for you not to talk about him at all.” Her temper was rising now. If his own had not been at the boiling point he might have noticed the symptoms and been more careful. But he was past taking care. “I tell you this,” he cried, determinedly: “If you think I am going off to Europe and leave you here with him you are very much mistaken. _That_ much is settled, anyhow.” She rose to her feet. “Do you mean that you don’t trust me enough to--to leave me with anybody?” she demanded. “I mean that I won’t leave you with him. I should say not! With him--and with that uncle of yours standing behind him, helping him play his cards and--and.... Oh, Esther, think a little bit! Can’t you see that getting this Covell here is just a part of your uncle’s whole scheme? Get me out of the way, send me across the water, and--well, then maybe, with this chap around to help you forget, you will forget. And everything will be all serene for Foster Townsend. Not much! I wasn’t going before--I told you so--and if I wouldn’t then I certainly shan’t now. I’m not an absolute fool. Why--” She broke in upon the tirade. “Wait!” she ordered. “Wait before you say anything more. Does this mean that when you came here to-night you intended telling me that you weren’t going to do what I had asked; that you weren’t going abroad unless I did?”