Tor explained the matter briefly and clearly, as much, at least, as there was any need to explain. Mr. Meredith listened with interest and attention. He seemed amused and entertained by what he heard, which had about it a flavour of romance that just suited him. He was quite ready to become an accomplice, and promised never to reveal the fact that Phil and the Signor were one and the same. He was not likely to publish anything which should show that his perceptions had ever been at fault. Suddenly, however, a cloud seemed to settle upon his brow. Tor saw it, and understood its meaning, and signed to Phil to depart. Phil obeyed gladly, being all on fire to find and claim Roma as his own. ‘Now, Mr. Meredith,’ said Tor, when he and the old man were alone together, ‘you and I have a little matter to discuss between us.’ ‘Yes, Mr. Torwood; and I am a man of honour. If I must keep my word, I must; but this has been a shock to me.’ ‘In what way, sir?’ ‘Can you not guess?’ ‘Perhaps you are thinking of your daughter?’ ‘I am. I have liked you, as you know, for your own sake. I would gladly welcome you as a son-in-law—and yet—I have set my heart upon marrying Roma to Philip Debenham’s son.’ ‘And you may do so still! Have I not said that _in all things_ I have acted merely as my friend’s deputy?’ Meredith’s face expressed a sort of surprised satisfaction. ‘Engaged yourself to Roma by deputy, do you mean, Mr. Torwood?’ ‘I think, sir,’ said Tor, smiling, ‘that it was you who engaged us. We had little voice in the matter, if you remember.’ ‘Ah, well, I may have said the most; but I quite understood that you accepted.’ ‘I did not decline, because it would have hurt you if I had done so at such a moment; and besides, I had no right.’ ‘How so?’ ‘It was not to me, but to my friend Philip that the proposition was made. I could not decline a bride, so likely to be beloved by him.’ ‘You thought that?’ ‘I did—I have every reason to think it still.’ Meredith smiled gently, and then his face grew grave. ‘Roma——’ he began, and said no more. ‘Make your mind easy; she never cared one atom for me.’ ‘Why—why? She always seemed——’ ‘She merely liked me as an ordinary friend—nothing more.’ ‘And you?’ ‘I cared only for Maud, who is now my promised wife. Roma and I understood one another all along. I could not explain everything; but she knew from the first that the engagement was purely nominal.’ Michael Meredith held out his hand. ‘Sir, you are a man of honour, and a true gentleman. I thank you with all my heart. I could almost wish still that I might call you son.’ ‘Phil will be a son much more to your mind than I could ever be, Mr. Meredith,’ answered Tor. ‘He and Roma were made for one another. At least, I can answer for it that Roma is just the sort of wife he wants, to steady him down and give him an object in life. A little ballast is all he needs. He is the best-hearted, sunniest-tempered fellow in the world.’