t moment resembled his father's in its cold, patrician
lines. The mention of Nicholas Fenn's name seemed to have transformed
him.

"If I were you, Furley," he advised, "for the sake of our friendship, I
wouldn't try. There is no consideration in the world which would alter
my intentions."

There was the sound of the lifting of the outer latch, a knock at the
door. The incoming visitors stood upon no ceremony. Mr. Stenson and
Catherine showed themselves upon the threshold.

Mr. Stenson waved aside all ceremony and at once checked Furley's
attempt to rise to his feet.

"Pray don't get up, Furley," he begged, shaking hands with him. "I hope
you'll forgive such an informal visit. I met Miss Abbeway on my way down
to the sea, and when she told me that she was coming to call on you, I
asked leave to accompany her."

"You're very welcome, sir," was the cordial response. "It's an honour
which I scarcely expected."

Julian found chairs for every one, and Mr. Stenson, recognising
intuitively a certain state of tension, continued his good-humoured
remarks.

"Miss Abbeway and I," he said, "have been having a most interesting
conversation, or rather argument. I find that she is entirely of your
way of thinking, Furley. You both belong to the order of what I call
puffball politicians."

Catherine laughed heartily at the simile.

"Mr. Stenson is a glaring example," she pointed out, "of those who do
not know their own friends. Mr. Furley and I both believe that some
time or other our views will appeal to the whole of the intellectual and
unselfish world."

"It's a terrible job to get people to think," Furley observed. "They are
nearly always busy doing something else."

"And these aristocrats!" Catherine continued, smiling at Julian. "You
spoil them so in England, you know. Eton and Oxford are simply terrible
in their narrowing effect upon your young men. It's like putting your
raw material into a sausage machine."

"Miss Abbeway is very severe this morning," Stenson declared, with
unabated good humour. "She has been attacking my policy and my
principles during the whole of our walk. Bad luck about your accident,
Furley. I suppose we should have met whilst I am down here, if you
hadn't developed too adventurous a spirit."

Furley glanced at Julian and smiled.

"I am not so sure about that, sir," he said. "Your host doesn't approve
of me very much."

"Do political prejudices exist so far from their home?" Mr. Stenso