"If my influence can help you--yes." Derrington paused and shook his head. "But there is a lioness in the path, George." "Mrs. Ward?" "Exactly. She will move heaven and earth to prevent the marriage." George looked puzzled. "I see no reason why she should oppose it, if I am acknowledged as your heir." "Nor do I. I thought myself that it was simply the money she wanted, and if you were the son-in-law she would not get her claws on the gold. But there is more in it than that. She seeks revenge." "On me? I have never harmed her." "It's a vicarious revenge. I believed that woman loved your father, George, and that he slighted her; that is why she wants to visit his sin--as with a vindictive spirit she may regard it--on you." "Did Mrs. Ward know my father, sir?" asked George, quickly. "Yes. She met him at San Remo." "Then she knew he was murdered?" "Of course. I saw Mrs. Ward the other day, George. She came here to force me to harm you and to consent to Walter marrying Dorothy." "Oh! You never agreed to that." "I have answered her challenge by asking you to dinner and will acknowledge you my heir. Mrs. Ward will then try and make mischief." "Can she do so?" "Yes. She knows that I was in Mrs. Jersey's house on that night." "And you were, sir?" Derrington made a most unexpected reply. "No, I was not." CHAPTER XVII LORD DERRINGTON EXPLAINS George was rather puzzled to reconcile the apparent contradiction in Derrington's speech. The old gentleman saw his bewilderment, and before the young man could speak he anticipated his question. "You are perplexed," he said quietly. "I thought you would be. To explain myself clearly it will be better to tell you the whole story from the beginning." "What story?" "The story of your mother's marriage and of my quarrel with your father. Do not be afraid, I shall say nothing to hurt your pride." George nodded. "I am sure of that. We are friends now." Derrington was much gratified by this speech. But he merely acknowledged it with a grunt and began his family history at once. "Your father and I never got on well," he said frankly, "and I fear it was my fault. I wanted Percy to obey me implicitly, and as he was of an age to judge for himself he objected. You would have done the like in his case." "I certainly should, sir. Every man should judge for himself." "If he has brains to do so. But I fear Percy was not overburdened with brains. He was gay and thoughtless and thriftless. Your talents, George, come from your mother. She must have been a remarkable woman." "So Mr. Ireland says."