"As if they did not do these things themselves," retorted Mrs. Ward; "but since you have been so nasty, I intend to be nasty, too." "I shouldn't advise you to be nasty to me, Mrs. Ward. I have a large reserve fund of strength." "You'll need it all to hold your own against me." Lord Derrington nodded. "I quite admit that you are a dangerous woman," he said quietly. "Well, and in what way have you made up your mind to be nasty?" Mrs. Ward laughed. "You needn't repeat my adjectives," she said in her most frivolous manner. "If you want to know the way in which I intend to protect myself----" "What do you mean by that?" "I mean this," cried the little woman, growing angry all at once. "I am not going to be threatened about that unfortunate episode connected with the cards--it was that horrid Mrs. Wayflete who told you, so don't deny it--I am not going to be threatened without holding my own. Besides, I want Dorothy to marry your grandson." "Which one?" asked Derrington, coolly. "You have only Walter Vane." "Excuse me, George Brendon, whether there is a marriage or not, is equally my grandson." "I believe you admire him." "Very much, and it is in my mind to acknowledge him as my heir." "I thought as much after your sticking up for him the other day," said Mrs. Ward, furiously. "Now, look here, Lord Derrington. If Dorothy marries that Brendon creature I won't be able to do a thing with her--you know quite well I won't." "That means you won't be able to handle my money through George after I am dead," said Derrington, grimly. "You can put it that way if you like. But Walter shall be Dorothy's husband, I have made up my mind." "Because he's a fool and putty in your hands." "I shouldn't be vulgar if I were you," said Mrs. Ward, in a dignified manner, and quite forgetting that she had once used the same illustration herself in connection with Brendon. "But so long as George leaves Dorothy alone I shall say nothing." "That's really very good of you, Mrs. Ward." "Your being nasty won't make me change my mind. But you quite understand the situation, Lord Derrington. Walter is to marry my daughter, and George is to be kept away." "I don't see how he is to be kept away. I assure you Brendon is a strong man, and his will is quite equal to mine." "Nonsense, you have the strongest will in London." "And you come here to try and break it." "Life is a game," said Mrs. Ward, leaning back, with a pretty air of philosophy. "And at present I hold the trump card." "What is it?" asked Derrington, wondering by what means she hoped to make him consent to her demands. "I'll tell you presently," said Mrs. Ward, in a most masterful tone, which amused Derrington. "But you understand that if George Brendon doesn't keep away I shall give information to the police and have him arrested in connection with that murder." "Oh, no, you won't," said Derrington, good-humoredly.