That talk took place later on in the evening, when the young couple went for a stroll. At first Gloria, tearful and agitated, took her father’s view. It was impossible she could intrude herself into his life, with such a ghastly secret in the background, a secret that in all probability could not be kept indefinitely in the background. It would break her heart to part with him, but, for his own sake, she must insist upon giving him back his freedom. If he was angry with her now, he would be grateful in the future. So she pleaded amidst her plentiful tears. But by degrees he wore down her resolution, dictated by the judgment, not the heart. If Howard Stormont’s past should ever be revealed to an astonished world, he would help her with all his might to live the hateful thing down. When they returned to the hotel, he had proved the victor, and announced the result to Jasper, who, loyal to his promise, acquiesced, if he found it impossible to approve. “I shall come up to London in the morning with you,” he said to the young man, “and ascertain on the ’phone what are Howard’s movements. I should say that, as his _coup_ has failed, he will be bewailing his ill-fortune at Effington. He will hardly have the heart to resume his usual habits for a few days.” And so it proved. Mrs. Barnard, who answered the ’phone call, explained that her brother was rather out of sorts, and Jasper would find him at Effington at almost any hour of the day. If he went out, it would only be for a stroll in the grounds or to the village. Jasper Stormont went down after luncheon; he had not committed himself to any particular time. To one thing he had firmly made up his mind; he would not take another meal at Effington Hall, in the society of the man he had the misfortune to call brother. He took a taxi at the station and drove in due course through the big gates of the stately mansion, which he devoutly hoped he was entering for the last time. The owner was out, the new butler informed him, but was expected back shortly. Mrs. Barnard was in. She was pleased to see her brother. “But why couldn’t you come to luncheon?” she asked him. “Surely you are going to dine and stop the night?” She had received him in her own little boudoir, in which she wrote so many letters. “This may be the last time I shall see you here,” she remarked, not without symptoms of emotion. “Howard told me he had written to you about his misfortunes. For a long time I have feared this would be the end of his reckless extravagance. Well, it has come, and the only thing to do is to face it as well as one can. Thank Heaven, it won’t affect dear Gloria very much personally, but I am sure she is terribly grieved for us.” Jasper Stormont was a lovable enough man in many ways, but the sight of Effington, with its pretence of wealth, had made him feel very hard. Still, he could not show hardness to this poor woman who had lived for so long in a fool’s paradise.