wrote home on the subject this-wise:

"It seems to me the more terrible since I think he was a man who never
believed any such mischance could dare to happen to him. He always
gave me the impression of one who read his own mortality for
immortality, and was prepared to rule Time as arbitrarily as he ruled
men. It does not look to an outsider as if he had gained any
particular happiness from his fortune, but happiness is a word
everyone spells in their own way.... I shall be back at the end of the
week, for I find Marcel quite capable of finishing this piece of
work...."

Such was the epitaph pronounced over Peter Masters by his own son, and
Aymer, reading, sank beneath the dead weight of responsibility that
was his. The outcome of neutrality can be as great a force as that of
action, and to assume the right to stand aside is to play as decisive
a part as the fiercest champion. Nevertheless he held to that neutral
attitude through the pangs of self-reproach.

There was no will, Mr. Aston told him, when he returned from the plain
business-like affair of the funeral.

The news, incredible as it was, was yet a respite to Aymer.

He did not trouble to conceal it.

"But I am certain Saunderson knows something. Do not count on it,
Aymer."

"I count every chance in my favour," returned Aymer deliberately. "I
discount even your belief that Peter knew, since he said nothing."

Mr. Aston looked at him sadly. He had no such hope, nor was he even
certain he was justified in seconding Caesar's wish that the fortune
should pass Christopher by. The nearer the great thing came to them
the more difficult was it to ignore the vastness of the interests
involved, and the greater the responsibility of those who stood
motionless between Christopher and it. Yet Mr. Aston knew as well as
Aymer that neither of them would move from their position, and if they
had acted wrongly in following the wishes of the dead woman in
preference to the material instincts of the living man, they must
accept the result, and Christopher must accept it, too.

But he felt keenly Aymer's failure to present an unbiassed face to the
turn of circumstances.

"How long will it be before Saunderson acts if he has any clue to go
on?" Aymer asked wearily after a long silence.

"He would act immediately, but whether that would land him on the
right line would depend on the strength of the clue. Aymer, my dear
fellow, try and put the matter from you. You are no