"I will." Sir Simon rang the bell to intimate to Mrs. Gilroy that Julius could be shown up. "If he doesn't want it, of course I can leave it to someone else." "To Bernard." "Perhaps. And yet I don't know," fumed Sir Simon. "The rascal defied me! He offered to pitch me out of the window if I said a word against that Alice of his. I want Bernard to marry you--" "I am engaged to Julius." "So you said before," snapped the other. "Well, then, Miss Perry. She is an heiress." "And as plain as Alice is handsome." "What does that matter? She is good-tempered. However, it doesn't matter. I won't be friends with Bernard unless he does what I tell him. He must give up Alice and marry Miss Perry. Try the Red Window scheme when you go back to the Hall, Lucy. It will bring Bernard to see me, as you say." "It will," said Lucy, but by no means willingly. "Bernard comes down at times to the Hall to watch for the light. But I can make a Red Window here." "Bernard doesn't know the house." "I am sure he does," said Lucy. "He has to go to the lawyers for what little money he inherits from his father, and Mr. Durham may have told him you are here. Then if I put the light behind a red piece of paper or chintz, Bernard will come here." "It is all romantic rubbish," grumbled the old man, warming his hands. "But do what you like, child. I want to give Bernard a last chance." At this moment Julius appeared. He was a slim young man with a mild face, rather expressionless. His hair and eyes were brown. He was irreproachably dressed, and did not appear to have much brain power. Also, from the expression of his eyes he was of a sly nature. Finally, Mr. Beryl was guarded in his speech, being quite of the opinion that speech was given to hide thoughts. He saluted his uncle affectionately, kissed Lucy's cheek in a cold way, and sat down to observe what a damp, dull day it was and how bad for Sir Simon's rheumatism. A more colorless, timid, meek young saint it would have been hard to find in the whole of London. "I have brought you some special snuff," he said, extending a packet to his host. "It comes from Taberley's." "Ah, thank you. I know the shop. A very good one! Do you get your cigars there, Julius?" "I never smoke," corrected the good young man, coldly. Sir Simon sneered. "You never do anything manly," he said contemptuously. "Well, why are you here?" "I wish, with your permission, to take Lucy to the theatre on Friday," said Mr. Beryl. "Mrs. Webber is going with me, and she can act as chaperon." "I should think she needed one herself. A nasty, flirting little cat of a woman," said Sir Simon, rudely. "Would you like to go, Lucy?" "If you don't mind, uncle." "Bah!" said the old man with a snarl. "How good you two are. Where is the theatre, Julius?" "Near at hand. The Curtain Theatre." "Ah! That's only two streets away. What is the play?" "_As You Like It_, by--"