ever anything as gross as this.
The thought of what his relation to a certain group of men--to Denny
especially--would be in the future, stung sharply. But it is the part
of the man of action to put both scruple and fear behind him on
occasion. His career was in question.

Craven? Well, Craven would be a difficulty. He would telegraph to him
first thing in the morning before the offices closed, and see him on
Monday. For Marcella's sake the man must be managed--somehow.

And--Marcella! How should she ever know, ever suspect! She already
disliked the violence with which the paper had supported the strike. He
would find no difficulty whatever in justifying all that she or the
public would see, to her.

Then insensibly he let his thoughts glide into thinking of the money.
Presently he drew a sheet of paper towards him and covered it with
calculations as to his liabilities. By George! how well it worked out!
By the time he threw it aside, and walked to the window for air, he
already felt himself a _bona-fide_ supporter of the Syndicate--the
promoter in the public interest of a just and well-considered scheme.

Finally, with a little joyous energetic movement which betrayed the
inner man, he flung down his cigarette, and turned to write an ardent
letter to Marcella, while the morning sun stole into the dusty room.

Difficult? of course! Both now and in the future. It would take him half
his time yet--and he could ill afford it--to bring her bound and
captive. He recognised in her the southern element, so strangely mated
with the moral English temper. Yet he smiled over it. The subtleties of
the struggle he foresaw enchanted him.

And she would be mastered! In this heightened state of nerve his man's
resolution only rose the more fiercely to the challenge of her
resistance.

Nor should she cheat him with long delays. His income would be his own
again, and life decently easy. He already felt himself the vain showman
of her beauty.

A thought of Lady Selina crossed his mind, producing amusement and
compassion--indulgent amusement, such as the young man is apt to feel
towards the spinster of thirty-five who pays him attention. A certain
sense of re-habilitation, too, which at the moment was particularly
welcome. For, no doubt, he might have married her and her fortune had he
so chosen. As it was, why didn't she find some needy boy to take pity on
her? There were plenty going, and she must have abundance of money. Old
A