"They are engaged?" muttered Gideon Rolfe.
"My good friend, this matter has passed beyond your strength. Leave it to me. Yes, they are engaged; the affair has gone so far, but it must go no further. While you have been lurking outside area gates and behind carriages I have been at work, and I will stop it. I am not too proud to accept your aid, however. When the time comes I will ask your aid. Give me an address to which to write to you."
Gideon Rolfe, with a suspicious air, drew a piece of paper from his pocket and wrote an address.
"This will find you?" said Stephen. "Good. When the time comes I will send for you; meanwhile"--and he smiled--"you can go on haunting area gates and watching carriages, but be sure of one thing, that this marriage shall never take place."
Gideon Rolfe watched the pale face grimly.
"I must know more," he said. "How will you put an end to this?"
Stephen smiled. It was not a pleasant smile.
"You want to see the _modus operandi_? How the conjurer is going to perform the wonderful feat? Well, it is very simple. My friend and somewhat cousin, for all his romance, will not care to marry a girl whose name is stained with shame. If I know my dear Jack, he will not care to make an illegitimate child of Gideon Rolfe, the woodman, Mrs. Newcombe."
"Yes," said Stephen; "I shall tell him the truth, of course concealing the proper names, and you must be here to confirm my statement. That is all you have to do. Mind! not a word of my uncle's connection with the matter, or all is lost. You understand?"
"Yes, I understand," said Gideon, hoarsely. "I care not by what means so that the marriage is prevented."
"Nor I," said Stephen, coolly; "and now we are agreed on that point. When I want you I will write to you. Until then--will you take any refreshment?"
Gideon Rolfe waved his hand by way of negative, and Stephen rang the bell. "Show this gentleman out, Slummers. Mind the lower stairs, the gas has been put out. Good-night, good-night."
It was settled that Mrs. Davenant, Una and Stephen should go to the Hurst in a week's time. Jack had definitely declined to go to the Hurst. He felt that he would rather bear the absence of Una for a week or two than go to the old house, haunted as it was, for him, with so many memories; but lo and behold, a few days after the dinner party, had come a note from Lady Bell's father, asking him to visit Earl's Court.
