Foster was moved by his distress. Featherstone was proud and
honorable, and it must have cost him much to help his son to steal
away. Indeed, Foster thought what he had done then would always
trouble him, and after all it had proved useless. The worst was that
his sensitive uprightness might make him an easy victim of the
unscrupulous adventurer. But Foster did not mean him to be victimized.
As a rule, he was rather humorous than dramatic, but he got up and
stood with his hands clenched.

"This thing touches us both, sir. Lawrence is your son, but he's my
friend, and I've got to see him through, which warrants my giving you
the best advice I can. Very well, you must show a bold front to Daly;
to begin with you can't go to Hexham."

Featherstone gave him a grateful glance. He felt dejected and
desperate, but Foster looked comfortingly resolute. At first he had
welcomed him for his son's sake, but had come to like him for himself.

"No," he agreed. "I can't go; but that doesn't help us; because he'll
come here."

"Yes; he must be met. But do you know how he came to learn about the
matter?"

"I don't, but my relative, who was interested in politics and social
schemes, had a secretary. I can't remember his name, but this might be
the fellow."

"Then it's curious he didn't get on Lawrence's track before. Anyway,