Comethup took him suddenly by the shoulders and looked steadily into his eyes; Mr. Robert Carlaw's eyes shifted a little before the steady gaze of the other. "Do you mean to say that you're going to desert her too, eh?" asked Comethup. "My dear nephew, there's no question of desertion----" "Answer me, yes or no. I didn't want to talk about it, but you may perhaps remember that you've depended upon me for some years past. Leave her now, and, as surely as there's a God above us, I'll leave you to starve! Now, how's it to be?" "But, my dear nephew, think of the position." "My dear uncle, I have thought of the position. When did Brian go, and where has he gone?" "I believe he has gone to Paris, and, as generally happens in such cases, there's a woman in the matter." Comethup nodded grimly and glanced across at the house which Mr. Robert Carlaw had just left; he seemed to mutter something between his teeth. "To Paris. Well, I dare say I can find him. In the meantime you go back and you stay with her. Does she know anything about this?" "My dear boy, if there's one thing I dislike more than another, it's a scene with a woman--tears, and all that kind of thing. As that scapegrace son of mine had not seen fit to mention the matter, I thought it scarcely devolved upon me." "Exactly," replied Comethup. "And so you were going to creep out and leave her there--alone in uncertainty--to starve, for aught that you cared! Now, go back to her. Tell her nothing about this, except that Brian has been called away on business; I dare say your conscience will stretch to the extent of that lie. As regards pecuniary matters, I think you know you may safely leave them with me; but about that you will say nothing to her. For the rest I pledge you my word that if I can find Brian he shall be back here within a week. Now, go back to her, and hold your tongue!" Mr. Robert Carlaw commenced a protest, at first with something of bluster and then whiningly; but Comethup pointed sternly to the house, and at last, with a shrug of his shoulders, the uncle turned away and left the nephew standing looking after him. In a moment, however, he came rapidly back again. "My dear boy!" he exclaimed, "you won't leave us in the lurch? There are, of course, things to pay, and--and a position to be kept up, and I----" "I won't leave you in the lurch; you may be sure of that. Go back to her." He watched Mr. Robert Carlaw re-enter the house, and then turned away and walked homeward with a rapid step. CHAPTER XXIII. COMETHUP DRIVES A BARGAIN.