He raised his glass and drank.  He set the glass down quickly as if he would have liked to hide it.  A big man, clear-eyed and handsome, walked into the room and came straight to the little group in the corner.  Bobby tried to carry it off.

“’Lo, Hartley, old preacher.  You fellows all know Hartley Graham?  Sit down.  We’re going to have a little cocktail.”

Graham looked at the glasses, shaking his head.

“If you’ve time, Bobby, I’d like a word with you.”

“No preaching,” Bobby bargained.  “It isn’t Sunday.”

Graham laughed pleasantly.

“It’s about money.  That talks any day.”

Bobby edged a way out and followed Graham to an unoccupied room.  There the big man turned on him.

“See here, Bobby!  When are you going out to the Cedars?”

Bobby flushed.

“You’re a dear friend, Hartley, and I’ve always loved you, but I’m in no mood for preaching tonight.  Besides, I’ve got my own life to lead”—­he glanced away—­“my own reasons for leading it.”

“I’m not going to preach,” Graham answered seriously, “although it’s obvious you’re raising the devil with your life.  I wanted to tell you that I’ve had a note from Katherine to-day.  She says your grandfather’s threats are taking too much form; that the new will’s bound to come unless you do something.  She cares too much for you, Bobby, to see you throw everything away.  She’s asked me to persuade you to go out.”

“Why didn’t she write to me?”

“Have you been very friendly with Katherine lately?  And that’s not fair.  You’re both without parents.  You owe Katherine something on that account.”

Bobby didn’t answer, because it was clear that while Katherine’s affection for him had weakened, her friendship for Graham had grown too fast.  Looking at the other he didn’t wonder.

“There’s another thing,” Graham was saying.  “The gloomy old Cedars has got on Katherine’s nerves, and she says there’s been a change in the old man the last few days—­wanders around as if he were afraid of something.”

Bobby laughed outright.

“Him afraid of something!  It’s always been his system to make everybody and everything afraid of him.  But you’re right about Katherine.  We have always depended on each other.  I think I’ll go out after dinner.”

“Then come have a bite with me,” Graham urged.  “I’ll see you off afterward.  If you catch the eight-thirty you ought to be out there before half-past ten.”

Bobby shook his head.

“An engagement for dinner, Hartley.  I’m expecting Carlos Paredes to pick me up here any minute.”

Graham’s disapproval was belligerent.

“Why, in the name of heaven, Bobby, do you run around with that damned Panamanian?  Steer him off to-night.  I’ve argued with you before.  It’s unpleasant, I know, but the man carries every mark of crookedness.”

“Easy with my friends, Hartley!  You don’t understand Carlos.  He’s good fun when you know him—­awfully good fun.”