therwise. And then,
naturally, like all men, he has a weakness for being comfortable. Money
should grow in his pockets, but alas! it does not. They are often empty,
and he knows not how to put up with that. It is no doubt the duty of his
daughter to take a husband rich and generous enough to put Monsieur in
the position he should fill, without anxieties, where, if there is any
question of a second marriage for him, the choice of a wife may be made
by his heart. And if Madame la Marquise will forgive me the immense
presumption of speaking my mind, I may say that, from the inquiries
Monsieur has made concerning his friends in France, I feel assured his
soul is really there.

Most unluckily, however, Mademoiselle--who pretends such devotion to her
"Larry"--puts her own fancies before his welfare. I have done all my
possible to persuade her that she should accept a certain Monsieur
Caspian, who has one of the great fortunes of this country, it appears,
and is also most presentable. This I have done not only because it is
for the ultimate good of Mademoiselle, and because Monsieur Caspian has
been considerate to me, but far more because of my promise to watch in
every way the true interests of Monsieur Moore. With such a son-in-law,
he would be free to turn his face toward France: and he himself wishes
the marriage in his wiser moments. He may even have borrowed some few
thousands of francs from Monsieur Caspian. But his good nature is the
enemy again--always the enemy! He has fear of being the cruel parent.
Indeed he is not, I think, intended by heaven for a parent at all. Yet,
rather than push Mademoiselle into a marriage, he is ready to be drawn
into one himself, and there is now much danger that this may happen.

As I write, Mademoiselle is away on a short automobile tour, and
Monsieur is completely unprotected, except by me, and what can I do but
write to Madame la Marquise? Staying in the house is a dangerous woman,
not possessed of siren fascinations; indeed, on the contrary, she is of
a plainness to chill the blood of a _debonnaire_ man like Monsieur
Moore. It is her money that is the magnet, and ah, the power makes
itself felt! She, the woman who has the _bourgeois_ name of Shuster, has
remained at home, giving various excuses, but the true reason is to get
herself safely engaged to Monsieur before the return of his daughter.
Monsieur also, it must be confessed, is a little to blame in this
matter, but it is his go