eton is in possession of certain
documents in which my wife is interested, which he refuses to give up?"

"I have understood that such is the case," Aynesworth admitted.
"Will you pardon me if I add that it is a matter which I can scarcely
discuss?"

Barrington shrugged his shoulders.

"Let it go, for the moment," he said. "There is something else which I
want to say to you."

Aynesworth nodded a little curtly. He was not very favorably impressed
with his visitor.

"Well!"

Barrington leaned forward in his chair.

"Mr. Aynesworth," he said, "you have made for yourself some reputation
as a writer. Your name has been familiar to me for some time. I was at
college, I believe, with your uncle, Stanley Aynesworth."

He paused. Aynesworth said nothing.

"I want to know," Barrington continued impressively, "what has induced
you to accept a position with such a man as Seton?"

"That," Aynesworth declared, "is easily answered. I was not looking for
a secretaryship at all, or anything of the sort, but I chanced to hear
his history one night, and I was curious to analyze, so far as possible,
his attitude towards life and his fellows, on his reappearance in it.
That is the whole secret."

Barrington leaned back in his chair, and glanced thoughtfully at his
companion.

"You know the story of his misadventures, then?" he remarked.

"I know all about his imprisonment, and the cause of it," Aynesworth
said quietly.

Barrington was silent for several moments. He felt that he was receiving
but scanty encouragement.

"Is it worth while, Mr. Aynesworth?" he asked at length. "There is
better work for you in the world than this."

Again Aynesworth preferred to reply by a gesture only. Barrington was
watching him steadily.

"A political secretaryship, Mr. Aynesworth," he said, "might lead you
anywhere. If you are ambitious, it is the surest of all stepping stones
into the House. After that, your career is in your own hands. I offer
you such a post."

"I am exceedingly obliged to you," Aynesworth replied, "but I scarcely
understand."

"I have influence," Barrington said, "which I have never cared to use
on my own account. I am willing to use it on yours. You have only to say
the word, and the matter is arranged."

"I can only repeat," Aynesworth said, "that I am exceedingly obliged
to you, Mr. Barrington, but I cannot understand why you should interest
yourself so much on my behalf."

"If you wish me to speak in p