his engagement had become known, he had sought to
obtain an interview with Purvis and Sprague and Winfield; but for a
long time the opportunity which he sought did not come, and he was too
proud to seek them for the ostensible purpose of speaking to them about
it.

One day in February, however, he saw them together. He had come to his
club late one night, and found them alone in the smoking-room. He had
spent the evening with Olive, and had come back by the last train. As
may be imagined, neither Sprague nor Purvis felt very kindly towards
him. No man looks kindly on a successful rival. It angered them also
when they remembered that it was through their instrumentality that the
engagement had come to pass.

They had been talking about Leicester before he came in. Like many
others, they did not believe in his sincerity. How could Leicester, the
cynic, the scoffer at women, the man who when under the influence of
whisky had made a wager that he could win a woman, love the woman he had
won? Was it not simply to win his wager that he was playing this part?

"For my own part," said Winfield, "I believe him to be sincere. What
begun in a jest has ended in earnest. When he met Miss Castlemaine, he,
who for years had avoided women, realised how wrong he had been. He has
evidently fallen deeply in love, and I for my part am glad that she
accepted him. Leicester will be a fine fellow, and will have a great
future. I hear he never touches drink now."

"I do not believe it," said Sprague. "The Ethiopian cannot change his
skin, nor the leopard his spots. I believe he is simply playing a game.
As for his giving up the drink, yes, that may be possible. I believe
Leicester is capable of doing anything whereby he can have his way.
You'll find that at the end he'll wriggle out of it."

"I don't say that," said Purvis. "Why should he? As we know, she will be
a great heiress. There must be pots of money, and Leicester means to
have the handling of it."

"It ought to be stopped," said Sprague.

"But how can it be stopped?" asked Winfield. "Even if we desired, we
cannot hinder them from marrying. I am told that Miss Castlemaine is
deeply in love with him."

"All the more reason why she should be told the truth."

"But she can't be. We have promised to hold our tongues, and--well, a
promise is a promise."

"Not when given under such circumstances. We have no right to allow a
woman to wreck her life. For Leicester will wreck her l