Seaton paced along with a velvet-footed stride like a tiger on a
trail.

"Had she led him on?"

"Rather! She leads all men 'on'--or they think she does. She led YOU
on at one time!"

Seaton turned upon him with a quick, savage movement.

"Never! I saw through her from the first! She could never make a
fool of ME!"

Sam Gwent gave a short cough, expressing incredulity.

"Well! Washington thought you were the favoured 'catch' and envied
your luck! Certainly she showed a great preference for you--"

"Can't you talk of something else?" interposed Seaton, impatiently.

Gwent gave him an amused side-glance.

"Why, of course I can!" he responded--"But I thought I'd tell you
about Jack--"

"I'm sorry!" said Seaton, hastily, conscious that he had been
lacking in sympathy--"He was your heir, I believe?"

"Yes,--he might have been, had he kept a bit straighter"--said