"You can't turn me out," he said, "and I know where you are going, anyway, because you were giving directions to the driver when I stood behind you. You had better let me go with you. I like the suburbs." She turned and faced him swiftly. "And Silvers Rents?" she asked. He went a shade paler. "What do you know about Silvers Rents?" he demanded, recovering himself with an effort. She did not reply. The taxicab was halfway to its destination before the girl spoke again: "Are you serious when you say you will forbid the marriage?" "Quite serious," he replied; "so much so that I shall bring in a policeman to witness my act." The girl was nearly in tears. "It is monstrous of you! Uncle wouldn't--" "Had you not better see your uncle?" he asked. Something told her that he would keep his word. She had a horror of scenes, and, worst of all, she feared the meeting of the two men under these circumstances. Suddenly she leaned forward and tapped the window, and the taxi slowed down. "Tell him to go back and call at the nearest telegraph office. I want to send a wire." "If it is to Mr. Frank Merrill," said Jasper smoothly, "you may save yourself the trouble. I have already wired." Frank came back to London in a pardonable fury. He drove straight to the hotel, only to learn that the girl had left again with her uncle. He looked at his watch. He had still some work to do at the bank, though he had little appetite for work. Yet it was to the bank he went. He threw a glance over the counter to the table and the chair where he had sat for so long and at which he was destined never to sit again, for as he was passing behind the counter Mr. Brandon met him. "Your uncle wishes to see you, Mr. Merrill," he said gravely. Frank hesitated, then walked into the office, closing the door behind him, and he noticed that Mr. Brandon did not attempt to follow. John Minute sat in the one easy chair and looked up heavily as Frank entered. "Sit down, Frank," he said. "I have a lot of things to ask you." "And I've one or two things to ask you, uncle," said Frank calmly. "If it is about May, you can save yourself the trouble," said the other. "If it is about Mr. Rex Holland, I can give you a little information." Frank looked at him steadily. "I don't quite get your meaning, sir," he said, "though I gather there is something offensive behind what you have said." John Minute twisted round in the chair and threw one leg over its padded arm. "Frank," he said, "I want you to be perfectly straight with me, and I'll be as perfectly straight with you." The young man made no reply.