der! But Adela Branston is a good little soul, and will make
a charming wife. Gilbert, I wish to heaven you would fall in love with
her!"

Gilbert Fenton stared aghast at his companion, as he tossed the end of
his cigar into the gutter.

"Why, John, you must be mad to say such a thing."

"No, it is by no means a mad notion. I want to see you cured, Gilbert. I
do like you, dear boy, you know, as much as it is possible for a selfish
worthless fellow like me to like any man. I would give a great deal to
see you happy; and I am sure that you might be so as Adela Branston's
husband. I grant you that I am the favourite at present; but she is just
the sort of woman to be won by any man who would really prove himself
worthy of her. Her liking for me is a mere idle fancy, which would soon
die out for want of fuel. You are my superior in every way--younger,
handsomer, better. Why should you not go in for this thing, Gil?"

"Because I have no heart to give any woman, John. And even if I were
free, I would not give my heart to a woman whose affection had to be
diverted from another channel before it could be bestowed upon me. I
can't imagine what has put such a preposterous idea into your head, or
why it is that you shrink from improving your own chances with Mrs.
Branston."

"You must not wonder at anything that I do or say, Gilbert. It is my
nature to do strange things--my destiny to take the wrong turning in
life!"

"When shall I see you again?" Gilbert asked, when they were parting at
the Temple gates.

"I can scarcely tell you that. I must go back to Oxford to-morrow."

"So soon?"

"Yes, my work gets on better down there. I will let you know directly I
return to London."

On this they parted, Gilbert considerably mystified by his friend's
conduct, but not caring to push his questions farther. He had his own
affairs to think of, that one business which absorbed almost the whole of
his thoughts--the business of his search for the man who had robbed him
of his promised wife, this interval, in which he remained inactive,
devoting himself to the duties of his commercial life, was only a pause
in his labours. He was not the less bent upon bringing about a
face-to-face meeting between himself and Marian's husband because of this
brief suspension of his efforts.

CHAPTER XIV.

FATHER AND SON.

While Gilbert Fenton was deliberating what steps to take next in his
quest of his unknown enemy, a gentleman arrived