“Has this to do with your first husband?”

“I fear that if he has come in possession of the facts he may intend to use them against me.”

“Then the only thing for you to do is to see father at once, and to tell him everything yourself before that horrid man has the opportunity.  There is nothing, Eleanor, which you could tell him which he would not accept exactly as you stated.  Why, of course there isn’t.”

“I wish I had your confidence, dear,” Eleanor sighed, “but that would be asking too much.”

“Was Mr. Buckner concerned in it?”

“No; it was another man—­the only other man I ever met except your father whom I would include among God’s noblemen.”

“Some one you loved, Eleanor?” the girl asked, hesitatingly.

“No, dear, not that!” she cried, hastily.  “I was in no condition at that time to love any one.  It was, as I told you, right after Carina’s death.  He was the friend who protected me and who helped me at that time—­I told you about it—­but who would believe that it was simply an act of humanity?”

“Father would believe it, Eleanor,” the girl cried, firmly.  “You must tell him, and you must tell him now—­now—­he is in the library.”

“Oh, I cannot!” cried Eleanor, shrinking; “Robert is so much to me that I cannot run the risk of having even a doubt disturb the perfect understanding that has always existed between us.”

“You must, Eleanor,” insisted Alice, rising and urging Mrs. Gorham to her feet.  “You must—­shall I go with you?”

“No, dear,” Eleanor replied.  “I will go”; and with slow footsteps she left the room.

* * * * *

Gorham was well satisfied with the successful formation of the Manhattan Traction Company, as he was also with the general progress of the Consolidated Companies.  Its expansion and success were phenomenal, and it was, of a certainty, coming into its own.  The volume of business had quadrupled; its list of stockholders was nearly complete, and already included a sufficient proportion of those who controlled the world’s pulse to make the acquisition of the others certain; its political strength, exercised under his firm hand for peace always, even now exceeded any similarly exerted power the world had known.

It was natural that Gorham should be filled with a certain sense of satisfaction that his work was bearing such magnificent fruit.  One by one the necessities of life were being given to the public at a lower cost; one by one the luxuries, which had previously been denied them, were being brought within their reach.  Wars had been prevented and taxation reduced.  Everywhere the Consolidated Companies was looked upon as the people’s friend, and those connected with it as public benefactors.  And yet—­the profits were increasing so rapidly that before long they bade fair to defy human computation!