He sent her under escort to the drawing-room, and directed that Connie should be told to join her. Then he returned to his study and began the letter which he had to write to Trix Trevalla. He fulfilled his obligation loyally, although he had no pity for Trix, and was sorely tempted to give her a dig or two. He resisted this temptation when he remembered that to do what he said he would was an essential part of his policy, and that, if he failed in it, Peggy Ryle would come again and want to know the meaning of it; at which thought he raised his brows and smiled in an amused puzzle. So he told Trix that Glowing Stars gave promise of a new development, and, though he could not offer her any price for her shares, he would take them off her hands for a nominal consideration, and hold her free from the liability. 'Thus,' he ended, 'closing all accounts between us.' 'She was a fool, and my wife was a fool, and I suppose I was a fool too,' he mused. A broader view came to his comfort. 'A man's got to be a bit of a fool in some things if he wants to live comfortably at home,' he reflected. He could not expect the weaker sex (such undoubtedly would have been his description) to rise to the pure heights where he dwelt, where success in business was its own reward and the victorious play of brains triumph enough. 'But anyhow we backed the wrong horse in Trix Trevalla,' he had to acknowledge finally. Before he had sealed the letter, Connie burst into the room. Fricker prepared to say something severe--these unlicensed intrusions were a sore offence. But the sight of his daughter stopped him. She was dressed in the height of smartness; she had her hat on and was buttoning her gloves; her cheeks were red, and excitement shone in her eyes. On the whole it looked as though she were clearing the decks for action. 'I'm going back to tea with Miss Ryle,' she announced. He rose, and stood with his back to the fireplace. 'Well, she's a very nice friend for you to have, Connie.' There was a flavour of mockery in his tone. 'You know as well as I do that there's no question of that. But Mrs. Trevalla's living with her now.' 'I thought your mother and you had agreed to drop Mrs. Trevalla?' Connie was not in the mood to notice or to trouble about his subtly malicious sarcasms. 'I asked Beaufort Chance to come here to-day,' she went on, 'and he told me he had to be in the City all the afternoon.' 'Aren't these things in your mother's department, Connie?' 'No, in yours. I want you to back me up. He's going to tea at four o'clock at Miss Ryle's--to meet Mrs. Trevalla.' 'Miss Ryle told you that? And she wants you to go with her?' 'Yes. You see what it means?' 'Why, Connie, you're looking quite dangerous.' 'I'm going with her,' Connie announced, finishing off the last glove-button viciously. 'At least I am if you'll back me up.' 'How?' he asked. He was amused at her in this mood, and rather admired her too.