ed of the Found Out. He
felt instinctively that behind the courteous demeanour of Jack Meredith
there was an opinion--a cool, unbiassed criticism--of himself, which
Meredith had no intention of divulging.

On hearing that Jack was at the bungalow with Jocelyn, Maurice Gordon
glanced at the clock and wondered how he could get away from his present
visitor. The atmosphere of Jack Meredith's presence was preferable to
that diffused by Victor Durnovo. There was a feeling of personal
safety and dignity in the very sound of his voice which set a weak and
easily-led man upon his feet.

But Victor Durnovo had something to say to Gordon which circumstances
had brought to a crisis.

"Look here," he said, leaning forward and throwing away the cigarette
he had been smoking. "This Simiacine scheme is going to be the biggest
thing that has ever been run on this coast."

"Yes," said Gordon, with the indifference that comes from
non-participation.

"And I'm the only business man in it," significantly.

Gordon nodded his head, awaiting further developments.

"Which means that I could work another man into it. I might find out
that we could not get on without him."

The black eyes seemed to probe the good-natured, sensual face of Maurice
Gordon, so keen, so searching was their glance.

"And I would be willing to do it--to make that man's
fortune--provided--that he was--my brother-in-law."

"What the devil do you mean?" asked Gordon, setting down the glass that
was half raised to his lips.

"I mean that I want to marry--Jocelyn."

And the modern school of realistic, mawkishly foul novelists, who hold
that Love excuseth all, would have taken delight in the passionate
rendering of the girl's name.

"Want to marry Jocelyn, do you?" answered Maurice, with a derisive
little laugh. On the first impulse of the moment he gave no thought to
himself or his own interests, and spoke with undisguised contempt. He
might have been speaking to a beggar on the roadside.

Durnovo's eyes flashed dangerously, and his tobacco-stained teeth
clenched for a moment over his lower lip.

"That is my desire--and intention."

"Look here, Durnovo!" exclaimed Gordon. "Don't be a fool! Can't you see
that it is quite out of the question?"

He attempted weakly to dismiss the matter by leaning forward on his
writing-table, taking up his pen, and busying himself with a number of
papers.

Victor Durnovo rose from his chair so hastily that in a flash M