‘Agreed; well, I’ll be off. Find out the best train, and call for me in the morning.’ A loud knock at the front door delayed Clausen’s contemplated departure. He looked at his watch and said, ‘By Jove, it’s two o’clock! We’d better open the door, the servants will be in bed.’ Potter was standing on the doorstep. He entered, and said, ‘Sorry to disturb you, but it’s rather important I should see you at once, Kirkdale.’ Clausen offered to go. Potter stopped him, saying, ‘It doesn’t signify. It’ll be all over the place to-morrow. Only I thought I owed it to Kirkdale here to warn him.’ ‘Well, come in; sit down and have a smoke.’ ‘I don’t mind if I do; I want to settle myself a little. To tell the truth, we’ve had a hell of a row.’ ‘Ah!’ said Kirkdale, feeling his blood run cold, ‘it’s all out, then?’ ‘What, you knew? And you allowed such a man to associate with your mother and sisters. You must be mad.’ ‘Yes, I suppose I am. What has occurred?’ ‘I suspected Travers, from the first time I saw him. Then Maisy came home charmed with him. You’ll pardon my saying so, but I always regard that as a bad sign; I find she has a natural affinity for rogues.’ Clausen chuckled. ‘I admit it. I am no exception. I am no doubt a rogue myself, but that doesn’t make me inclined to tolerate other rogues. I met this Travers at the club two or three times, and I noticed him playing at cards. To-night I proposed a game of _écarté_, and gave him a good chance for his particular little game. I caught him in the very act, and, as I have said, there was a devil of a row.’ ‘What has become of him?’ ‘Well, after we had made it sufficiently clear to him that we did not desire more love and knowledge of him, he went out into the void. I followed shortly after and came here, thinking he possibly might have come to give you his version of the affair, and there might be another chance of wigs on the green. My blood’s up now. That’s the worst of a nature like mine. Just as I get thoroughly roused and interested everything is over. And my blood has to simmer down again in a desolation of peace and good humour.’ ‘He hasn’t been here. But I’ll tell you what, Potter, I’d have given a thousand pounds not to have had this happen to-night.’ ‘I’m very sorry, Kirkdale, but next time you propose to bring a cardsharper and blackguard into your family circle you had better take us into your confidence, so that we can have some common basis of operations. Good night, Clausen. Good night, Stephen. Better luck next time, eh!’ * * * * *