Jasper did not enlighten his brother on this point, and presently Howard put to him, point-blank, the question: “And now that you know all this, what are you and this precious young Lydon going to do? Do you intend to play the part of virtuous citizens and denounce me to the police?” “We ought to do it, if we performed our duty,” said Jasper coldly. “But I have a proposition to make to you. Your letter shows me that you are broke to the world. Your interview with your confederate Edwards, after Grewgus had foiled his plot against Wraysbury, must have convinced you that a continuance of this criminal life is fraught with peril; that at any moment Nemesis may overtake you.” Stormont looked up sharply, “How did you know that I had an interview with Edwards?” he asked, in evident surprise. But Jasper declined to enlighten him. “Again I repeat, that is my business. This precious young Lydon, as you call him, has behaved like the honourable Englishman he is. I told him emphatically that he must give up Gloria, that he must not connect himself with a family that had this black stain upon its records. Gloria took the same view, and insisted upon releasing him, although she told me that to do so would break her heart.” For the first time in their interview, the hardened criminal showed an overwhelming sense of shame. “Poor Gloria!” he muttered in a broken voice. “Poor Gloria! It is indeed hard upon her. And Lydon would not accept his dismissal. Well, I will admit he is a noble fellow.” “I am glad you do him that justice. Well, my proposition is this. It is horrible to me to think that my innocent and unsuspecting child has lived all these years upon the proceeds of infamy. The money you have expended upon her for something like fourteen years I will restore to you on the condition that you abandon this life, and break away for ever from your criminal associates. Even then, there is not absolute safety. At any moment the past may yield up its secrets, and all the world may know you for what you are.” Howard Stormont kept silence. His active brain was no doubt weighing the advantages and disadvantages of his brother’s suggestion. “As I shall be very liberal in my estimate of what she cost you,” continued Jasper; “you could exist upon the interest of the capital sum I should hand over to you. But you are not without brains, and you might use that money to embark in some honest business.” “It is a very generous offer,” Howard said at length. “And I am very disposed to accept It without further reflection. Still, I would like to go into matters a little closer first. I admit your visit here to-day has taken the courage out of me. You will laugh at me, I suppose, and consider it a further proof of my hypocrisy when I say that I would prefer not to live upon your bounty. But I should like to reckon up what I am likely to get out of the sale of Effington, when the mortgages have been paid off.”