“If we go, Richard, we burn our bridges behind us.” So said John Fenton, as he walked restlessly up and down the room, puffing a pipe nervously, his face paler than usual, and a gleam in his eyes that indicated a mind disturbed. Stoughton was lounging in one of Fenton’s easy-chairs and gazing at his friend questioningly. It was the evening of the day on which Fenton had listened to Mr. Robinson’s proposition, and he had summoned Richard to his rooms for a council of war. “I am fully convinced,” continued Fenton, “that the best thing that could happen to you at present, Richard, would be a long absence from New York. As for myself, I am not sure that this London scheme would not save me from making a fool of myself. But”-- “But,” put in Richard solemnly, “you love Gertrude Van Vleck. The ‘but’ is a very important one. Why should you give her up? Of course, John, there are several reasons why I can see an advantage for myself in going to London as your assistant. But I am perfectly willing to waive all that, if you’ll throw away your unreasonable scruples, and take the good the gods provide.” Fenton seated himself and puffed at his pipe musingly. “There’s a vulgar assertion,” he remarked at length, “that informs us how hard it is to teach an old dog new tricks. Admitting, Richard, that what you say is true,--granting your premises, I mean,--I cannot accept your conclusion. Listen to me a moment, and don’t interrupt. I will acknowledge that I should like to make Gertrude Van Vleck my wife, but let us look at the matter from all points of view. In the first place, I have no means of knowing that she esteems me more than other men. I have grown distrustful, Richard, of my own impressions in a matter of this kind. Her cordiality toward me may mean anything or nothing. But, after all, that is not the important point. The fact is, my boy, that I have no right to woo her. I have made a failure of life, for one thing. Furthermore, I have been for some years a determined foe to the institutions that have surrounded her with wealth and luxury. I am willing to acknowledge that I am not as aggressive a radical as I was some time ago, but that does not alter the fact that I have long been an outspoken opponent of timocracy.” “Timocracy?” exclaimed Richard. “The word sounds familiar, but my Greek is rusty. What does it mean, John?” Fenton looked at his friend suspiciously. For an instant he had a feeling that Richard was ridiculing him. But the earnest expression in the youth’s face reassured him.