ave come to
the conclusion that I was over-timid. There is no success in life to
be won without daring. Money we must have, and these places are like a
gold mine to us. If things go wrong, we must take our chance. I am
content. In the meantime, for all our sakes, it suits me to be in
evidence everywhere. The papers publish my portrait, the Society
journals record my name, people point me out at the theatres and at
the restaurants. This is not vanity--this is business. I am giving a
lecture the week after next, and every seat is already taken. I am
going to say some daring things. Afterwards, I am going to Naudheim
for a month. When I come back, I shall give another lecture. After
that, perhaps these places will not be necessary any more. But who can
tell? Money we must have, money all the time. Science is great, but
men and women must live."

She looked at him with a grim smile.

"You amuse me," she said. "Are you really the half-starved boy who
flung himself at my horses' heads in the Bois?"

"I am what the Fates have made of that boy."

She shook her head.

"You are going too fast," she said. "You terrify me. What about Lois?"

"Lois is of age in six weeks," he replied. "On the day she is of age,
I shall go to Rochester and demand her hand. He will refuse, of
course. I shall marry her at once."

"Why not now?" Rachael asked. "Why wait a day? The money will come
later."

"I will tell you why," Saton answered. "Because I have ambitions, and
because it would do them harm if people believed that I had exercised
any sort of influence to make that girl marry me against her
guardian's wishes. I do use my influence as it is, although," he
added, frowning, "I find it harder every day. She walked with me in
the Park this morning; she came to tea with me the day before."

"What do you mean when you say that you find it harder?" Rachael
asked.

"I mean that I have lost some of my hold over her," he answered. "It
is the sort of thing which is likely to happen at any time. She has
very weak receptive currents. It is like trying to drive water with a
sieve."

"You must not fail," she muttered. "I am nervous these days. I would
rather you were married to Lois, and her money was in the bank, and
that these places were closed. I start when the bell rings. Huntley
himself said that you were rash."

"Huntley is a fool," Saton answered. "Let me help you upstairs,
Rachael."

He passed his arm around her affectionately, a