Whatever the failings of the moneylender in certain directions, he behaved with rare generosity and tenderness to the daughter of his old sweetheart. He advanced money to secure her a good education. He did his best to secure for her eligible posts. Still, on the whole, she had experienced a rough time. She could do a little of everything fairly, but nothing very well. She had tried the concert hall, the stage, and been a failure on both. She had not even inherited her mother's talent for dancing. But poor old Jaques was always patient and kind. He kept her going with an allowance that might be called handsome. At the back of his mind he felt pretty sure that Violet would prove a winner in the end. She had been very seedy. Jaques had summoned her to his private room, thrust a hundred pounds worth of notes into her hand, and ordered her to take herself off to the most expensive hotel in Scarborough, to pick up health and strength. They would map out together some fresh plan of campaign when she came back. At the expensive hotel in Scarborough, she met Jack Hargrave, a personable young fellow, who seemed to have plenty of money, and was of good family. At that time Violet was a very thrifty young woman--she learned expensive habits later on--she reckoned that she would stay at Scarborough for a fortnight, and return with a handsome balance out of the hundred pounds. Then the kind Jaques, to whom she was genuinely grateful, would not have to put his hand in his pocket for some little time. She met Jack Hargrave, who was staying at the same hotel. He fell violently in love with her, with her blonde prettiness. At the end of the first week he proposed. Violet was attracted by him, perhaps a little bit in love. She accepted him on the spot, and went off the next morning to London to consult Jaques, in whom she placed her full confidence. There was here a little break in the story, as told to Moreno. Evidently her guardian approved. She married Jack Hargrave, and they had taken the flat in Mount Street, of which she was still the tenant. Here Moreno had interrupted. "You say that Jack Hargrave was well-off. How did he make his money? Flats in Mount Street are not run on credit." "Oh, don't you know? It was Jaques who put him into good things in the City, out of friendship for me." "But, one moment," pursued Moreno. "He was well-off when he met you. How was he making money when our good old friend Jaques had not appeared on the scene?" Violet, under the influence of the liqueurs, was a little off her guard. "Oh, don't be silly. Jack was a very expert bridge-player." Moreno nodded. "I think I understand. We won't go into details. Under his instructions, you became a very expert bridge-player too. It used to be whispered that you were just a little bit too lucky." Violet Hargrave admitted that many rumours had been flying about, and that the flat in Mount Street had become a little suspect.