t as blind as
a bat can spot it in a minute. I did; Cheriton has (that's why he's so
queer-mannered, by the way, I suppose); probably Denis has. Well, with
everyone knowing about it like that, someone is bound before long to
ferret out the real facts. Cheriton won't be long, I fancy, before he
gets hold of it all. And then--and then it will be so frightfully
awkward. Oh, you can't go on, Hilary; you've got to drop it."

"You're talking very lightly," said Hilary, "of throwing up one's entire
income."

Peter sighed. "Not lightly; I'm really not. I know what a bore it will
be--but not such a bore as the other thing.... Well, then, don't throw it
up: simply chuck Stefani and the rest, and run the thing on different
lines. I'd help, if you'd let me. I'd chuck Leslie and stay on here and
write for you. I would love to. I made a start to-day, you see; I told
Stefani he was out of his reckonings, so he'll be prepared. We'll tell
all the rest the same.... I suppose Vyvian's in it, too? Can't you get
rid of the man? I do so dislike him, you know. Well, never mind; anyhow,
we'll tell him he's got to run on new lines now. Oh, we'll make a decent
thing of the Gem after all; Hilary, do let's. Peggy, don't you think that
would be jolly?"

He looked up into his sister-in-law's face, and met smiling eyes suddenly
tear-dimmed. She smiled down at him.

"Very jolly, you beloved child.... So you'll chuck your Mr. Leslie and
your own profession and help to run the Gem? I don't think we can let him
do that, Hilary, can we?"

Hilary's strained face had softened and relaxed.

"I confess," he said, "that it would be in many ways a great relief to me
to drop that side of the business, if I could see my way to it. But it
won't be easy now, Peter. It will mean a certain amount of going back on
former statements, for one thing."

"Oh, that'll be all right. Papers are always doing that. We'll manage all
right and put a good face on it. And we'll make the thing sell--make it
funny and interesting and nice. Of course, if Leslie is willing for me to
give part of my time to it, there's no reason why I should leave him, as
long as he stays in Venice. It will be all in his interests really,
because he can get tips from the Gem. I've warned him off it lately
because I thought you were such an awful muddler, Hilary. By the way,
it's rather a relief that you aren't quite so wanting as I was beginning
to fear; seriously, I was wondering how on earth y