Lady Cantourne glanced round the room as if looking for some object upon which to fix her attention. It was a characteristic movement which he knew, although he had only seen it once or twice before. It indicated that if there was an end to Lady Cantourne's wit, she had almost reached that undesirable bourne. “He has broken off his engagement,” she said, looking her companion very straight in the face, “NOW--at the eleventh hour. Do you know anything about it?” She came closer to him, looking up from her compact little five-feet-two with discerning eyes. “John!” she exclaimed. She came still nearer and laid her gloved hands upon his sleeve. “John! you know something about this.” “I should like to know more,” he said suavely. “I am afraid--Millicent will be inconvenienced.” Lady Cantourne looked keenly at him for a moment. Physically she almost stood on tip-toe, mentally she did it without disguise. Then she turned away and sat on a chair which had always been set apart for her. “It is a question,” she said gravely, “whether any one has a right to punish a woman so severely.” The corner of Sir John's mouth twitched. “I would rather punish her than have Jack punished for the rest of his life.” “Et moi?” she snapped impatiently. “Ah!” with a gesture learnt in some foreign court, “I can only ask your forgiveness. I can only remind you that she is not your daughter--if she were she would be a different woman--while he IS my son.” Lady Cantourne nodded as if to indicate that he need explain no more. “How did you do it?” she asked quietly. “I did not do it. I merely suggested to Guy Oscard that he should call on you. Millicent and her fiance--the other--were alone in the drawing-room when we arrived. Thinking that I might be de trop I withdrew, and left the young people to settle it among themselves, which they have apparently done! I am, like yourself, a great advocate for allowing young people to settle things among themselves. They are also welcome to their enjoyment of the consequences so far as I am concerned.” “But Millicent was never engaged to Guy Oscard.” “Did she tell you so?” asked Sir John, with a queer smile. “Yes.” “And you believed her?” “Of course--and you?” Sir John smiled his courtliest smile. “I always believe a lady,” he answered, “before her face. Mr. Guy Oscard gave it out in Africa that he was engaged to be married, and he even declared that he was returning home to be married. Jack did the same in every respect. Unfortunately there was only one fond heart waiting for the couple of them at home. That is why I thought it expedient to give the young people an opportunity of settling it between themselves.” The smile left his worn old face. He moved uneasily and walked to the fireplace, where he stood with his unsteady hands moving idly, almost nervously, among the ornaments on the mantelpiece. He committed the rare discourtesy of almost turning his back upon a lady.