"If it were my business I would know more about it," he said.--"I would know what _you_ mean, and how deep you have gone into this--this accursed scheme." The last two words had a sudden ring of intensity in their sound, which affected Amory tremendously. He sprang up again and began to pace the floor. "Nothing ever promised so well," he said, "and it will turn out all right in the end--it must! It is the delay that drives one wild. It will be all right next season--when Bertha is here." "What has she to do with it?" demanded Tredennis. "Nothing very much," said Amory, restively; "but she is effective." "Do you mean that you are going to set her to lobbying?" "Why should you call it that? I am not going to set her at anything. She has a good effect, that is all. Planefield swears that if she had stayed at home and taken Blundel in hand he would not have failed us." Tredennis looked at him stupefied. He could get no grasp upon him. He wondered if a heavy mental blow would affect him. He tried it in despair. "Do you know," he said, slowly, "what people are beginning to say about Planefield?" "They are always saying something of Planefield. He is the kind of man who is always spoken of." "Then," said Tredennis, "there is all the more reason why his name should not be connected with that of an innocent woman." "What woman has been mentioned in connection with him?" "It has been said more than once that he is in love with--your wife, and that his infatuation is used to advance your interests." Richard stopped on his walk. "Then it is a confoundedly stupid business," he said, angrily. "If she hears it she will never speak to him again. Perhaps she has heard it; perhaps that was why she insisted on going away. I thought there was something wrong at the time." "May I ask," said Tredennis, "how it strikes _you_?" "Me!" exclaimed Richard. "As the most awkward piece of business in the world, and as likely to do me more harm than anything else could." He made a graceful, rapid gesture of impatience. "Everything goes against me!" he said. "She never liked him from the first, and if she has heard this she will never be civil to him again, or to any of the rest of them. And, of course, she is an influence, in a measure; what clever woman is not? And why should she not use her influence in one way as well as another? If she were a clergyman's wife she would work hard enough to gain favors. It is only a trifle that she should make an effort to be agreeable to men who will be pleased by her civility. She would do it if there were nothing to be gained. Where are you going? What is the matter?" for Tredennis had walked to the table and taken his hat. "I am going into the air," he answered; "I am afraid I cannot be of any use to you to-night. My mind is not very clear just now. I must have time to think."