“Professor Pendragon is very charming and very clever and good looking. He is taller than Gloria, and apparently has no particular vocation, for he has given up astronomy. His interest in art he calls a fad; he lives alone in a suite in the Belton Hotel and about ten days ago he became mysteriously paralysed—his right leg up to the knee. That’s all I know,” said Ruth, “except that he’s one of the most fascinating men I’ve ever seen and I can’t understand why any woman would ever give him up. He’s almost as wonderful as Gloria herself. I’d like to say that he is ugly and old and disagreeable for your sake, but he isn’t.” Terry looked at her uncomprehendingly for a moment and then ignored her inference if he understood it at all. “That’s a lot of information to have collected all about one person,” he said. “They say it was a great love match and that they disagreed over some trifle. They met and were married in London and Gloria got a divorce in Paris less than a year later. Curious his turning up just now.” “Why just now?” asked Ruth. “Because Gloria is a woman who must at all times have some absorbing interest, and recently she hasn’t had one and it’s telling on her. She has fits of moodiness, and wild ideas that she never carries out—like the proposed sudden trip to Palm Beach. Two years ago when I first met Gloria she would have gone. If only I could finish my comedy and make it a real success with Gloria in the star rôle—” “You would really like to do things for Gloria,” said Ruth. “Yes; I’m awfully fond of her. She’s been my friend and has helped me ever since I first met her.” “Then, please, can’t you persuade her to get rid of George?” There was an intense appeal in Ruth’s voice that surprised Terry more than her request. “Why? How would that help her?” “I can’t explain it exactly. There are several reasons. One is that Gloria has been living quite beyond her income—I suppose I shouldn’t tell these things even to you, but I am worried about her and perhaps you can help—and she simply refuses to give up her big house because it serves as a refuge for professional people, friends of hers, out of an engagement. Of course all these people think that Gloria has unlimited means or they wouldn’t come. She won’t even let me help her, though I could quite easily. It’s because she really needs money that she’s gone to work in motion pictures. I imagine that George is an expensive servant and I thought if we could make her discharge him, she could get some one else for less money. Of course that wouldn’t make much difference in her expenses—I understand that—but it would be a start. It’s a lot of small economies that count, you know,” she said gravely.