That was exactly what Kenyon didn't want. He got up, went over to the table and mixed a drink. "Potter off to bed, Graham, old boy," he said. "Get a good night's rest. You need it. We'll go further into the matter in a day or two. It requires serious consideration. Anyway, I congratulate you. You're a bit of a knight, and you've my complete admiration." He led the boy to the door, patted him on the shoulder and got rid of him. Then he returned to Peter, whose face showed that he was laboring under many conflicting emotions. "Nick," he said, "he's only twenty-four--just making a beginning. He did the only thing he could do under the circumstances, but,--but what would father say?" "I don't think it's a question as to what your father would say," said Kenyon. "If I know anything, the way to put it is what can your father do? Of all men in the city he's the one who could be most useful in this peculiar mess-up--Peter, you and I have got to get that boy out of this, otherwise----" "Otherwise what?" "Otherwise--quite shortly--the police are likely to fish out of the river the dead body of a promising lad of twenty-four, and there'll be great grief in this house." "What d'you mean?" "Exactly what I say. That girl's a liar, a cheat and a fraud." "I don't believe you." "I don't care whether you believe me or not. She's rotten from head to foot. She's as easy to read as an advertisement. She's taking advantage of a fellow who's as unsuspicious as you are. You're both green,--green, I tell you,--as green as grass." "I'd rather be green," cried Peter, hotly, "than go through life with your rotten skepticism." "Would you? You talk like an infant. Graham will want to marry some day,--and then what? Good Heavens! Hasn't anybody taken the trouble to tell you two any of the facts of life? You are neither of you fit to be allowed out in the streets without a nurse. It's appalling. Skeptical, you call me. You're blind, I tell you. Blind! So's the old man in the next room. There's an ugly shadow over this house, Peter, as sure as you're alive. Don't stand there glaring at me. I'm talking facts. If you've got any regard for your brother and his health and his future; if you want to save your mother from unutterable suffering and your father from a hideous awakening, don't talk any further drivel to me, but make up your mind that the girl, Ita Strasbosck, has it in her power to turn Graham into a suicide. She's a liar--a liar and a trickster and a menace--and I'll make it my business to prove it to you and Graham." "You can't." "Can't I? We'll see about that. And you've got to help me. We've got to make Graham see that he must shake her off at once,--at once, I tell you. The alternative you know."