He nodded rather gloomily.

"Yes, it's a fine property. It'll be mine some day--should be
mine now by rights, if my father had only made a decent will.
And then I shouldn't be so damned hard up as I am now."

"Hard up, are you?"

"My dear Hastings, I don't mind telling you that I'm at my wit's
end for money."

"Couldn't your brother help you?"

"Lawrence? He's gone through every penny he ever had, publishing
rotten verses in fancy bindings. No, we're an impecunious lot.
My mother's always been awfully good to us, I must say. That is,
up to now. Since her marriage, of course----" he broke off,
frowning.

For the first time I felt that, with Evelyn Howard, something
indefinable had gone from the atmosphere. Her presence had spelt
security. Now that security was removed--and the air seemed rife
with suspicion. The sinister face of Dr. Bauerstein recurred to
me unpleasantly. A vague suspicion of every one and everything
filled my mind. Just for a moment I had a premonition of
approaching evil.



CHAPTER II.