But Jasper Stormont could be a very obstinate man when he chose, and he held very rigid views of what was right and what was wrong. “No child of mine shall carry her tainted name into an honourable family,” he said firmly. “And you cannot get away from it that he has communicated a taint to the whole of his kindred. Besides, how do we know what is going to be the end of it? How can we be sure that, long as he has succeeded in evading justice, it will not overtake him one of these fine days. Even if I could succeed in persuading him to lead an honest life for the future, how can we guarantee the past? You say the Paris police have not yet given up their researches into the mystery of the jeweller’s death. At any moment something may come to light in that direction. No, my dear boy, I appreciate your nobility of choice, but Gloria must give you your freedom. If she is her father’s daughter, I think she will take the same view as I do.” Lydon was not so sure. In his own mind, he thought that love would prevail. For a long time they wrangled over the point, the decision being finally reached that Gloria should act exactly as her feelings prompted her. Her father would state his views, but he would not use his influence over her to adopt them. It was natural they should still talk further over the subject, painful as the discussion was to both. “That _coup_ he pretended to be the outcome of some financial speculation was clearly the mulcting of this young simpleton of that tremendous sum,” remarked the banker presently. “The fact that it had fallen through as soon as he received that telegram from his accomplice proves that. And yet I do not see, if it had come off, that it would have made his position as sure as he told me. I do not know in what proportion these miscreants divide their villainous gains. There were certainly four of them in it, Howard, his friend Whitehouse, and the husband and wife, to say nothing of the gang who I suppose have an over-riding percentage on everything. Even if Howard got a quarter of the amount, the interest on that would not keep a place like Effington Hall going.” Lydon smiled ironically. “Would a man of your brother’s temperament bother about such things as investments and interest? If he received that sum, he would simply draw on it as long as it lasted, trusting to further luck to replenish his waning store.” “Horrible idea,” said the banker with a shudder. “But I think you have seen more clearly than I did, Leonard. To me, the idea of a man living on his capital is unthinkable. Well, I shall make these awful disclosures to Gloria after dinner; she shall have a little more peace, poor child. And, later on, you and she shall have a heart-to-heart talk.”