Ruyler made a rapid calculation. Aileen Lawton was just about three years

older than Helene. She was fair like her father. There was no resemblance

between her and his wife, but the intimacy between them had been

spontaneous and had never lapsed. She had grown up quite unrestrained and

spoilt, and broken three engagements, and was always rushing about

proclaiming in one breath, that California was the greatest place on

earth and in the next that she should go mad if she didn't get out and

have a change. Another grievance was that although her father let her

have her own way, or rather did not pretend to control her, he gave her a

rather niggardly allowance for her personal expenses and she was supposed

to be heavily in debt. Ruyler thought he could guess where a good deal of

his wife's spare cash had gone to. He disliked Aileen Lawton as much as

he did Polly Roberts; more, if anything, because she might have been

clever and she chose to be a fool. Both of these intimate friends of his

wife were the reverse of the superb outdoor type he admired.

"Good Lord!" he said. "I don't think there's much choice."

But in a moment he shook his head. "Too many things don't connect. Where

did she get the money to go to her relations in Rouen--"

"He pensioned her off, of course."

"And the child? How did he consent to let her return here with a daughter

he probably never had heard of--"

"I figger out, either that she came into some money from a relation over

in France, or else she has something on the old boy, and wanting to come

back here and marry her daughter, she held him up. He's a pillar of the

church, been one of the Presidents of the Pacific-Union Club, has argued

cases before the Supreme Court that have been cabled all over the

country. When a man of that sort gets to Lawton's time of life he don't

want any scandals."

"All the same," said Ruyler positively, "I don't believe it. I think it

far more likely that he was a friend of Madame Delano's husband--assuming

that she had one--and that some money was left with him in trust for her

or the child."

"Well, it may be, but I incline to Lawton--"

"There's one person would know--"

"'Gene Bisbee. But I never went to that bunch yet for any information,

and I don't go this time except as a last resort. Of course he knows, and

that is one reason I believe she is Mrs. Lawton. He was Gabrielle's

maquereau for years--when he'd wrung enough out of her he set up for

himself--Well, I ain't through yet, by a long sight. Beliefs ain't

proof." He rose slowly from the deep chair, stretched himself, and

settled his hat firmly on his head.




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