"One step in the right direction," he muttered. "Take care, Master Jack; I shall outwit you yet."
As he ascended the stairs of his chambers, Slummers came out to meet him.
"There is a--person waiting for you, Mr. Stephen," he said.
Stephen stopped, and his hand closed on the balustrade; his thoughts flew to Laura Treherne.
"Very good," said Stephen, with a breath of relief. "Who is it--do you know?"
"A rough sort of man, sir; says he has come on business. He has been waiting for hours."
"I am very sorry," said Stephen, aloud and blandly, for the benefit of the visitor. "I am sorry to have kept anyone waiting. But it is rather late----"
He entered the room as he spoke, and started slightly, for standing in the center of the apartment was Gideon Rolfe.
Notwithstanding the start Stephen came forward with outstretched hand and a ready smile of welcome.
"My dear Mr. Rolfe, I am indeed sorry that you should have been kept so long. If I had only known that you were coming----"
Gideon Rolfe waived all further compliment aside with a gesture of impatience.
"I wished to see you," he said. "Time is no object to me."
Stephen shut the door carefully and stood in a listening attitude. He knew it was of no use to ask his visitor to sit down.
"You have come to inquire about your daughter?"
"No, I have not," said Gideon Rolfe, calmly. "I know that she is well--I see her daily. I came to remind you of our contract--I came to remind you of your promise that no harm should come near her."
"And I trust no harm has come near her, my dear Mr. Rolfe."
"But I say that it has," said Gideon Rolfe, coldly. "I have watched her daily and I know."
"To what harm do you allude?" asked Stephen, bravely.
"Do you deny that the young man Jack Newcombe is near her?"
"Oh," said Stephen, and he drew a long breath.
Then he commenced untying the scarf, his acute brain hard at work.
Here was an instrument ready to his hand, if he chose to use it properly.
"Oh, I understand. No, I do not deny it; I wish that I could do so, for your sake and for Una's," he said gravely.
"Speak plainly," said Gideon Rolfe, hoarsely.
"I will," said Stephen. "Plainly then, Mr. Newcombe has chosen to fall in love with--your daughter! That accounts for his constant attendance upon her."