“Right now,” Henderson went on, “I can see a few people we both know who are bound to come a cropper if they don’t mind their steps. There’s Connie Mills. Not a bad sort, Connie, but a little bit too afraid she isn’t having as much fun as she’s entitled to. And Shep--the most high-minded, unselfish fellow I know--he, poor nut, just perishing for somebody to love him!” “What sort of a chap’s George Whitford?” Bruce asked. “First class,” Bud answered promptly. “A real fellow; about the best we’ve got. Something of the soldier of fortune about him. A variety of talents; brilliant streak in him. Why do you ask? George getting on your preserves?” “Lord, no! I was just wondering whether you’d knock him. I like him myself.” “Well, nearly everyone does. He appeals to the imagination. Just a little too keen about women, however, for his own good.” A buzzer sounded and Bruce went to the telephone by which visitors announced themselves from the hall below. “Mr. Carroll? Certainly; come right up!” “Carroll? Didn’t know you were so chummy with him,” Henderson grumbled, not pleased by the interruption. “I run into him at the club occasionally. He’s been threatening to drop in some evening. Seems to be a nice chap.” “Oh, yes, Carroll’s all right!” Bud grinned. “We might proceed with our discussion of the Millses. Arthur ought to know a few merry facts not disclosed to the general public. He wears the mask of meekness, but that’s purely secretarial, so to speak.” Carroll, having reached the apartment, at once began bantering Henderson about the Plantagenet Bud had lately sold him. “I’m another Plantag victim,” said Bruce. “Bud’s conscience is hurting him; he’s moaning over the general depravity of the world.” “He should worry!” said Carroll. “The Plantagenet’s shaken my faith in Heaven.” III Carroll, Bruce knew, was a popular man in town, no doubt deriving special consideration from his association with Mills. His name was written into local history almost as far back as that of the Mills family. In giving up the law to become Mills’s right-hand man it was assumed that he had done so merely for the benefit to be derived from contact with a man of Mills’s importance. He dabbled somewhat in politics, possibly, it was said, that he might be in a position to serve Mills when necessary in frustrating any evil designs of the State or the municipal government upon Mills’s interests. Bruce had wondered a little when Carroll intimated his purpose to look him up; he had even speculated as to whether Mills might not have prompted this demonstration of friendliness for some purpose of his own. But Carroll bore all the marks of a gentleman; he was socially in demand and it was grossly ungenerous to think that his call had any motive beyond a wish to be courteous to a new member of the community.