"You're pretty shrewd. Though I've had much greater opportunities for observation, that idea has only lately occurred to me. Of course, in a general way, I shouldn't discuss my acquaintances in this casual fashion, but as you are likely to see a good deal of us there are things you'd better know." "I'll explain my point of view," said Lisle, refilling his pipe. "You have seen something of the kind of life I've led. Half my time, I suppose, has been spent in primeval surroundings; the rest in contact with the latest efforts of a rather unfinished civilization. Well, what you have to show me here is vastly different. These old houses, your smoothed-down ways, are a revelation to me. The polish on some of your furniture has taken several hundred years to put on; that in my Victoria quarters smells of the factory, and the board walls of other hotels I've lived in rend into big cracks because they're fresh from the mill. I'm full of interest; everything's new to me. But so far my curiosity's impersonal; I'm taking no hand in anything." His companion's face grew grave. "The trouble is that you may not be able to avoid it later. You're here, and some part will probably be forced on you. However, as I said, I think you're right about Bella." "But her money would be no great inducement to Gladwyne." "That's not certain. Clarence has a way of squandering money, and you may as well understand that there's very little to be derived from agricultural property. George had his mother's money, but he left it to Millicent; Clarence got only the land. That's what made a match between them seem so desirable." "Desirable!" Lisle broke out. "It's impossible! Not to be contemplated!" "Yes," Nasmyth agreed quietly. "If necessary, it will have to be prevented. I was only stating popular opinion." There was something curious in his tone and Lisle looked hard at him. Their eyes met full for a moment and the thoughts of each were clear to the other. "If anything must be done, it will fall to you," Nasmyth went on. "In this case it would be particularly invidious for me to interfere. But, if there had been nobody else, I'd have broken off the match." Lisle made no comment, but there was comprehension and sympathy in his expression, and Nasmyth nodded. "Yes," he acknowledged; "it's an open secret that I would have looked for nothing better than to marry Millicent Gladwyne." He paused with a slight flush creeping into his bronzed face. "For all that, I knew some years ago that I hadn't the faintest chance and never would have. I have her confidence and friendship; that has to be enough." "I think it's a good deal," said Lisle. There was silence for a minute or two, and then Lisle asked a question: "How could a girl like Millicent Gladwyne ever contemplate the possibility of marrying Clarence?"