He opened the door of his sitting-room, and then stopped dead on the threshold. The lights were burning fully, and a man was ensconced in his favourite armchair by the fire--Ashton. Lord! he had forgotten all about Ashton. Micky looked guiltily at the clock--nearly eleven!--he began a half-apology. "Awfully sorry, old man--I was kept.... Been waiting long?" "I got here at ten." Ashton climbed out of the chair and looked at Micky with a sort of shamefacedness. "Don't take your coat off," he said suddenly. "I want you to come out again----" "Out! Now! Look at the time, man!" "I know--it's only eleven.... I'm catching the midnight to Dover...." Micky stared. "Dover! What in the world...." Ashton turned round and looked down at the fire with a sort of embarrassment. "It's the mater," he said jerkily. "She's found out----" Micky looked puzzled. "Found out! What on earth...." Ashton made an impatient gesture. He was a good-looking man, with dark eyes that could look all manner of things without in the least meaning them. "About that girl at Eldred's," he said in a strangled voice. "You know! I told you about her. Lord, man, don't look so confoundedly ignorant! I told you about her," he broke off. "Well, some one's told the mater, and this morning...." he shrugged his shoulders. "There's been old Harry to pay! She told me if I didn't give her up she'd cut me out of her will. She would, too!" he added, in savage parenthesis. "Well! and what did you say?" Ashton looked round. "Hang it all! what could I say? Told her I would, of course." There was a sharp silence. "I thought you liked the girl," said Micky bluntly. The other man winced. "So I did--so I do.... It's a rotten shame. If you'd ever seen her ... you never have, have you?" "No." "Neither has the mater.... Women are all the same; because the girl has to work for her living they think she isn't fit for me to marry.... It's all a lot of rot.... However--beggars can't be choosers--and so I'm off to-night." Micky looked at him keenly. "You mean that you're going without a word to the girl?" "What can I do?--I went and saw her this morning--we had a rotten scene. I meant to tell her it was all up, but somehow I couldn't; I'm too dashed fond of her, and that's the truth. I can't bear to see her cry--it makes me feel such a cur...." He waited a moment, but Micky made no comment. "So the only thing is to clear out," Ashton went on jerkily. "I can't afford to quarrel with the mater, you know that.... Perhaps some day...." He stopped. "After all, she can't live for ever," he added brutally. Micky said nothing. "So I'm off to-night," Ashton went on with an effort. "I wanted to see you--I knew I could trust you...." He fumbled in a pocket. "There's a letter here.... I've written--I couldn't see her again. I know I'm a coward, but ... well, there it is!" He threw the letter down on the table.