There was nothing to an ordinary looker-on in that piece of jewellery, but somehow it troubled Duncan Leslie; and as he turned to speak to Aunt Marguerite, he felt that she had read his thoughts, and her lips had relaxed into a smile. "Well, George, if you do not mind Mr Leslie hearing, I do not," said Aunt Marguerite. "I must reiterate that the poor boy is growing every day more despondent and unhappy." "Nonsense, Margaret!" "Ah, you may say nonsense, my good brother, but I understand his nature better that you. Yes, my dear," she continued, "such a trade as that carried on by Mr Van Heldre is not a suitable avocation for your son." "Hah!" sighed Vine. "Now, you are a tradesman, Mr Leslie--" continued Aunt Marguerite. "Eh? I, a tradesman?" said Leslie, looking at her wonderingly. "Yes, of course; I suppose so; I trade in copper and tin." "Yes, a tradesman, Mr Leslie; but you have your perceptions, you have seen, and you know my nephew. Now, answer me honestly, is Mr Van Heldre's business suitable to a young man with such an ancestry as Henri's?" Louise watched him wonderingly, and her lips parted as she hung upon his words. "Well, really, madam," he began. "Ah," she said, "you shrink. His French ancestors would have scorned such a pursuit." "Oh, no," said Leslie, "I do not shrink; and as to that, I think it would have been very stupid of his French ancestors. Trading in tin is a very ancient and honourable business. Let me see, it was the Phoenicians, was it not, who used to come to our ports for the metal in question. They were not above trading in tin and Tyrian dye." Aunt Marguerite turned up her eyes. "And a metal is a metal. For my part, it seems quite as good a pursuit to trade in tin as in silver or gold." Aunt Marguerite gave the young man a pitying, contemptuous look, which made Louise bite her lip. "Aunt, dear," she said hurriedly, "let me give you some more tea." "I was not discussing tea, my dear, but your brother's future; and pray, my dear child," she continued, turning suddenly upon Madelaine with an irritating smile, "pray do not think I am disparaging your worthy father and his business affairs." "Oh, no, Miss Vine." "Miss _Marguerite_ Vine, my child, if you will be so good. Oh, by the way, has your father heard any news of his ship?" "Not yet, Miss Marguerite," said Madelaine quietly. "Dear me, I am very sorry. It would be so serious a loss for him, Mr Leslie, if the ship did not come safe to port." "Yes, of course," said Leslie; "but I should suppose, Miss Van Heldre, that your father is well insured." "Yes," said Madelaine quietly. "There, never mind about Van Heldre's ship," said Vine pleasantly. "Don't croak like a Cassandra, Margaret; and as to Harry, a year or two in a good solid business will not do him any harm, eh, Leslie?" "I should say it would do him a world of good."