"I wonder is that true."

"I feel certain it is. Trover went into all sorts of figures to show it.

I'm not very much up in arithmetic, and so could n't follow him; but I gathered that they 'd made their book to lose, no matter how the match came off. That was to be expected when they trusted such things to a woman."

Another and a longer pause now ensued between them; at length Paten broke it abruptly, saying, "And the girl--I mean Clara--what of her?"

"It's all arranged; she is to be Clara Stocmar, and a pensionnaire of the Conservatoire of Milan within a week."

"Who says so?" asked Paten, defiantly.

"Her mother--well, you know whom I mean by that title--proposed, and I accepted the arrangement. She may, or may not, have dramatic ability; like everything else in life, there is a lottery about it. If she really do show cleverness, she will be a prize just now. If she has no great turn of speed, as the jocks say, she 'll always do for the Brazils and Havannah. They never send _us_ their best cigars, and, in return, _we_ only give _them_ our third-rate singers!"

It was evident in this speech that Stocmar was trying, by a jocular tone, to lead the conversation into some channel less irritating and disputatious; but Paten's features relaxed nothing of their stern severity, and he looked dogged and resolute as before.

"I think, Stocmar," said he, at length, "that there is still a word wanting to that same bargain you speak of. If the girl's talents are to be made marketable, why should not I stand in for something?"

"You,--you, Ludlow!" cried the other. "In the name of all that is absurd, what pretext can _you_ have for such a claim?"

"Just this: that I am privy to the robbery, and might peach if not bought up."

"You know well this is mere blind menace, Ludlow," said the other, good-humoredly; "and as to letting off squibs, my boy, don't forget that you live in a powder-magazine."

"And what if I don't care for a blow-up? What if I tell you that I 'd rather send all sky-high to-morrow than see that woman succeed in all her schemes, and live to defy me?"

"As to that," said Stocmar, gravely, "the man who neither cares for his own life or character can always do damage to those of another; there is no disputing about that."

"Well, I am exactly such a man, and _she_ shall know it." Not a word was spoken for several minutes, and then Paten resumed, but in a calmer and more deliberate tone, "Trover has told me everything. I see her whole scheme. She meant to marry that old Baronet, and has been endeavoring, by speculating in the share-market, to get some thousands together; now, as the crash has smashed the money part of the scheme, the chances are it will have also upset the marriage. Is not that likely?"

"That is more than I can guess," said Stocmar, doubtingly.

"_You_ can guess it, just as _I_ can," said Paten, half angrily. "She's not the woman to link her fortune with a ruined man. Can't you guess _"

that?_ Stocmar nodded, and Paten went on: "Now, _I_ mean to stand to win on either event,--that's _my_ book."

"I don't understand you, Paul."

"Call me Ludlow, confound you," said Paten, passionately, "or that infernal name will slip out some day unawares. What I would say is, that, if she wishes to be 'My Lady,' she must buy _me_ off first. If she 'll consent to become my wife,--that is the other alternative."

"She'll never do that," said Stocmar, gravely.

"How do you know,--did she tell you so?"

"Certainly not."

"You only know it, then, from your intimate acquaintance with her sentiments," said he, sneeringly.

"How I know, or why I believe it, is my own affair," said Stocmar, in some irritation; "but such is my conviction."

"Well, it is not mine," said Paten, filling up his glass, and drinking it slowly off. "I know her somewhat longer--perhaps somewhat better--than you do; and if I know anything in her, it is that she never cherishes a resentment when it costs too high a price."

"You are always the slave of some especial delusion, Ludlow," said Stocmar, quietly. "You are possessed with the impression that she is afraid of you. Now, my firm persuasion is, that the man or woman that can terrify _her_ has yet to be born."

"How she has duped you!" said Paten, insolently.

"That may be," said he. "There is, however, one error I have not fallen into,--I have not fancied that she is in love with me."

This sally told; for Paten became lividly pale, and he shook from head to foot with passion. Careful, however, to conceal the deep offence the speech had given him, he never uttered a word in reply. Stocmar saw his advantage, and was silent also. At last he spoke, but it was in a tone so conciliatory and so kindly withal, as to efface, if possible, all unpleasant memory of the last speech. "I wish you would be guided by me, Ludlow, in this business. It is not a question for passion or vindictiveness; and I would simply ask you, Is there not space in the world for both of you, without any need to cross each other? Must your hatred of necessity bridge over all distance, and bring you incessantly into contact? In a word, can you not go your road, and let her go hers, unmolested?"

"Our roads lie the same way, man. I want to travel with her," cried Paten.

"But not in spite of her!--not, surely, if she declines your company!"

"Which _you_ assume that she must, and I am as confident that she will not."

Stocmar made an impertinent gesture at this, which Paten, quickly perceiving, resented, by asking, in a tone of almost insult, "What do you mean? Is it so very self-evident that a woman must reject me? Is that your meaning?"

"Any woman that ever lived would reject the man who pursues her with a menace. So long as you presume to wield an influence over her by a threat, your case must be hopeless."

"These are stage and behind-scene notions,--they never were gleaned from real life. Your theatrical women have little to lose, and it can't signify much to them whether a story more or less attach to their names.

Threats of exposure would certainly affright them little; but your woman living in the world, holding her head amongst other women, criticising their dress, style, and manner,--think of _her_ on the day that the town gets hold of a scandal about her! Do you mean to tell _me_ there's any price too high to pay for silencing it?"

"What would you really take for those letters of hers, if she were disposed to treat for them?"

"I offered them once to old Nick Holmes for two thousand pounds. I 'd not accept that sum now."

"But where or how could she command such an amount?"

"That 's no affair of mine. I have an article in the market, and I 'm not bound to trouble myself as to the straits of the purchaser. Look here, Hyman Stocmar," said he, changing his voice to a lower tone, while he laid his hand on the other's arm,--"look here. You think me very vindictive and very malignant in all this, but if you only knew with what insults she has galled me, what cruel slights she has passed upon me, you 'd pity rather than condemn me. If she would have permitted me to see and speak to her,--if I could only be able to appeal to her myself,--I don't think it would be in vain; and, if I know anything of myself, I could swear I 'd bear up with the crudest thing she could utter to me, rather than these open outrages that come conveyed through others."

"And if that failed, would you engage to restore her letters?--for some possible sum, I mean, for you know well two thousand is out of the question. She told me she could command some six or seven hundred pounds. She said so, believing that I really came to treat with her on the subject."

Paten shook his head dissentingly, but was silent. At last he said: "She must have much more than this at her command, Stocmar. Hawke's family never got one shilling by his death; they never were able to trace what became of his money, or the securities he held in foreign funds. I remember how Godfrey used to go on about that girl of his being one day or other the greatest heiress of her time. Take _my_ word for it, Loo could make some revelations on this theme. Come," cried he, quickly, as a sudden thought flashed across him, "I 'll tell you what I 'll do.

You are to meet her this evening at the masked ball. Let me go in your place. I 'll give you my solemn promise not to abuse the opportunity, nor make any scandal whatever. It shall be a mere business discussion between us; so much for so much. If she comes to terms, well. If she does not agree to what I propose, there's no harm done. As I said before, there shall be no publicity,--no scene."

"I can't accede to this, Ludlow. It would be a gross breach of faith on my part," said Stocmar, gravely.

"All your punctilio, I remark, is reserved for _her_ benefit," said Paten, angrily. "It never occurs to you to remember that _I_ am the injured person."

"I only think of the question as it displays a man on one side, and a woman on the other. Long odds in favor of the first, eh?"

"You think so!" said Paten, with a sneer. "By Jove! how well you judge such matters! I can't help wondering what becomes of all that subtlety and sharpness you show when dealing with stage folk, when you come to treat with the world of every-day life. Why, I defy the wiliest serpent of the ballet to overreach you, and yet you suffer this woman to wind you round her finger!"

"Well, it is a very pretty finger!" laughed Stocmar.

"Yes, but to have you at her feet in this fashion!"

"And what a beautiful foot too!" cried Stocmar, with enthusiasm.

Something that sounded like a malediction was muttered by Paten as he arose and walked the room with passionate strides. "Once more, I say,"