"
Selwyn looked at the man and knew he had lost; yet he forced himself to
go on:
"The boy regards you as his friend. Could you not, as his friend,
discourage his increasing tendency toward dissipation--"
"I am not aware that he is dissipated."
"What!"
"I say that I am not aware that Gerald requires any interference from
me--or from you, either," said Neergard coolly. "And as far as that
goes, I and my business require no interference either. And I believe
that settles it."
He touched a button; the man-servant appeared to usher Selwyn out.
The latter set his teeth in his under lip and looked straight and hard
at Neergard, but Neergard thrust both hands in his pockets, turned
squarely on his heel, and sauntered out of the room, yawning as he went.
It bid fair to become a hard day for Selwyn; he foresaw it, for there
was more for him to do, and the day was far from ended, and his
self-restraint was nearly exhausted!
An hour later he sent his card in to Rosamund Fane; and Rosamund came
down, presently, mystified, flattered, yet shrewdly alert and prepared
for anything since the miracle of his coming justified such preparation.
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