“Undoubtedly it is.”

“They put on a new set of the very best strings,” continued Ronnie; “supplied me with a good bow, and threw in a cake of rosin.”

“What did you pay for the organ?” inquired Aubrey Treherne.

“Twenty-four pounds.  Helen would not have a more expensive one.  She is always telling me not to be extravagant.”

“That, my dear boy, invariably happens to an impecunious fellow who marries a rich wife.”

Ronnie flushed.  “I am impecunious no longer,” he said.  “During the past twelve months I have made, by my books, a larger income than my wife’s.”

“I can well believe it,” said Aubrey, cordially.  “But I suppose she can never forget the fact that, when you married her, she paid your debts.”

Ronald West sprang to his feet.

“Confound you!” he said, violently.  “What do you mean?  Helen never paid my debts!  She found them out, I admit; but I paid them every one myself, with the first cheque I received from my publishers.  I demand an explanation of your statement.”

The other two members of the trio round the stove appeared completely unmoved by the fury of the young man who had leapt to his feet.  The Infant of Prague leaned calmly against its chair, reflecting the fire in its polished surface, and pressing its one sharp foot into the parquet.  Aubrey smiled, deprecatingly, and waved Ronnie back to his seat.

“My dear fellow, I am sure I beg your pardon.  My cousin certainly gave her family to understand that she had paid your debts.  No doubt this was not the case.  We all know that women are somewhat given to exaggeration and inaccuracy.  Think no more of it.”

Ronnie sat down moodily in his chair.

“It was unlike Helen,” he said, “and it was a lie.  I shall find out with whom it originated.  But you are a good fellow to take my word about it at once.  I am obliged to you, Treherne.”

“Don’t mention it, West.  Men rarely lie to one another.  On the other hand women rarely speak the truth.  What will my good cousin say to one hundred and fifty pounds being paid for a ’cello?”

“It will be no business of hers,” said Ronnie, angrily.  “I can do as I choose with my own earnings.”

“I doubt it,” smiled Aubrey Treherne.

“The man who married my cousin Helen, was bound to surrender his independence and creep under her thumb.  I am grateful to you for having saved me from that fate.  As no doubt she has told you, she refused me shortly before she accepted you.”

Ronald’s start of surprise proved at once to Aubrey his complete ignorance of the whole matter.

“I had no idea you were ever in love with my wife,” he said.

“Nor was I, my dear fellow,” sneered Aubrey Treherne.  “Others, besides yourself, were after your wife’s money.”

A sense of impotence seized Ronald, in nightmare grip.  Indignant and furious, he yet felt absolutely unable to contradict or to explain.