be folly.
I meant to go with my wife----"

Suddenly he stopped in his restless pacing and faced Barry with gleaming
eyes.

"By gad, Barry! Why shouldn't I take my wife there after all?"

"Your wife?" Even the quick-witted Barry was at fault.

"Yes. My wife." He laughed at the other man's face. "Oh, I'm not married
yet, but why shouldn't I be? I swore I'd marry the first woman who'd
have me, and it's just occurred to me--Barry, do you thing she _would_
have me?"

"She? _What_ she?" demanded Barry in justifiable bewilderment.

"Why, our excellent little secretary and typist--our Miss Gibbs--our
Antonia, known at home as Toni!"

Barry's boyish face flushed crimson, and for a second he looked so angry
that Owen stared in genuine amazement.

"Well, Barry, what's up? I assure you my intentions are strictly
honourable! If she'll have me, she shall step into the shoes vacated by
Miss Vivian Rees, and succeed to the house, the car, the boats, and all
the rest of the worldly goods which weren't sufficient to tempt my
beautiful _fiancee_!"

"See here, Owen." Barry's voice was quiet. "I suppose you're ragging,
but let me tell you I think the rag's in execrable taste, and I'll be
obliged if you'll drop the subject."

For a second Owen seemed about to retort in the same tone. Then, quite
suddenly, his face changed.

"Say, Barry, why all these frills? You surely didn't think I meant any
harm--any disrespect to the girl?"

"Of course not." He spoke rather coldly. "Only--well, I don't like to
hear you joking about marrying Miss Gibbs. She's a decent little thing,
and far too good to be made a cat's paw in a game of revenge."

Owen looked at his friend quietly.

"You're right, Barry, and if I were only joking it would be a bit
low-down. But suppose I mean it? Suppose I ask the girl to marry me,
quite quietly, not entering into any heroics or telling any condemned
lies, and she accepts me, what then?"

Barry's heart gave a sudden throb of dismay. There was something behind
Owen's calm manner which made him feel vaguely uneasy. Could it be that
Owen too had surprised Toni's pitiful little secret--that he knew--had
known all along that the girl was not so indifferent to him as she
wished to appear?

For the moment Barry was nonplussed. If it were so, if Owen knew, and,
knowing, chose to take the risk of the girl's acceptance, had he any
right to interfere?

That Toni would accept, Barry felt almost convinced; and yet