The attentive Beryl helped Sir Simon on with his overcoat and wrapped a muffler round his throat. Then he went out to select a special four-wheeler instead of sending the page-boy. When he was absent, Mrs. Gilroy appeared in the hall where Sir Simon waited, and, seeing he was alone, came close to him. "Sir," she said quietly, "this girl Jane has described the young man's looks who comes to see her." "Well! well! well!" "The young man--the soldier," said Mrs. Gilroy, with emphasis--"has come only since we arrived here. Jane met him a week before our arrival, and since we have been in the house this soldier has visited her often." "What has all this to do with me?" asked Sir Simon. "Because she described the looks of the soldier. Miss Randolph says he is an Imperial Yeoman." Sir Simon started. "Has Miss Randolph seen him?" he asked. "No. She only goes by what I said this morning to you. But the description, Sir Simon--" Here Mrs. Gilroy sank her voice to a whisper and looked around--"suits Mr. Gore." "Bernard! Ah!" Sir Simon caught hold of a chair to steady himself. "Why--what--yes. Julius said he was an Imperial Yeoman and--" "And he comes here to see the housemaid," said Mrs. Gilroy, nodding. "To spy out the land," cried the baronet, in a rage. "Do you think that my grandson would condescend to housemaids? He comes to learn how I am disposed--if I am ill. The money--the money--all self--self--self!" He clenched his hand as the front door opened. "Good-bye, Mrs. Gilroy, if you see this Imperial Yeoman, say I am making a new will," and with a sneer Sir Simon went out. Mrs. Gilroy looked up to heaven and caught sight of Lucy listening on the stairs. CHAPTER III THE WILL Mr. Durham was a smart young lawyer of the new school. The business was an old one and lucrative; but while its present owner was still under thirty, his father died and he was left solely in charge. Wiseacres prophesied that, unguided by the shrewdness of the old solicitor, Durham junior, would lose the greater part, if not all, of his clients. But the young man had an old head on young shoulders. He was clever and hard-worked, and, moreover, possessed a great amount of tact. The result was that he not only retained the old clients of the firm, but secured new ones, and under his sway the business was more flourishing than ever. Also Mark Durham did not neglect social duties, and by his charm of manner, backed by undeniable business qualities, he managed to pick up many wealthy clients while enjoying himself. He always had an eye to the main chance, and mingled business judiciously with sober pleasures.