rich and he
is poor, and because he chances to have succeeded where you have not.
Well, for myself and for him I defy you. Do your worst and fail, and
when you have failed, in the hour of your extremity remember my words
to-day. If I have given you pain by refusing you it is not my fault and
I am sorry, but when you threaten the man who has honoured me with
his love and whom I honour above every creature upon the earth, then I
threaten back, and may the Power that made us all judge between you and
me, as judge it will," and bursting into tears she turned and left him.

Sir Robert watched her go.

"What a woman!" he said meditatively, "what a woman--to have lost. Well
she has set the stakes and we will play out the game. The cards all seem
to be in my hands, but it would not in the least surprise me if she
won the rubber, for the element that I call Chance and she would call
something else, may come in. Still, I never refused a challenge yet and
we will play the game out without pity to the loser."

That night the first trick was played. When he got back to The Court Sir
Robert ordered his motorcar and departed on urgent business, either
to his own place, Old Hall, or to London, saying only that he had been
summoned away by telegram. As the 70-horse-power Mercedes glided out of
the gates a pencilled note was put into Mr. Haswell's hand.

It ran: "I have tried and failed--for the present. By ill-luck A.V. had
been before me, only this morning. If I had not missed my chance last
night owing to your illness, it would have been different. I do not,
however, in the least abandon my plan, in which of course I rely on and
expect your support. Keep V. in the office or let him go as you like.
Perhaps it would be better if you could prevail upon him to stop there
until after the flotation. But whatever you say at the moment, I trust
to you to absolutely veto any engagement between him and your niece, and
to that end to use all your powers and authority as her guardian. Burn
this note.

"R.A."

CHAPTER VI

MR. HASWELL LOSES HIS TEMPER

Alan and Barbara sat in Mr. Champers-Haswell's private sitting-room with
the awful decorations, and before them by the fire Mr. Champers-Haswell
reclined upon his couch. Alan in a few, brief, soldier-like words had
just informed him of his engagement to Barbara. During the recital of
this interesting fact Barbara said nothing, but Mr. Haswell had whistled
several times. Now at lengt