With an exclamation of pain and astonishment, Adrien gazed on the man whom he had so loved and trusted.  There was no mistaking the bitter hatred that was in Vermont’s tones.  At last, his eyes were being opened to the man’s true character.

Lord Barminster regarded him steadily.

“You’re mad!” he said quietly.

“Oh, no, no!” laughed Vermont.  “It is not I who am mad, but you, who foolishly handed over your wealth to your son before it was his by right.  You should have let him wait till death had removed you, before you gave him full power over Barminster.  Such lavish expenditure as his would empty the coffers of a nation.  His folly has melted every stone of your precious Castle in the cup of pleasure, and has poured out the costly draught at the feet of his friends and parasites.  Friends?  He has never had any—­leeches, perhaps, who have sucked him dry of all his possessions, and then deserted him.”

“Speak for yourself, you cur.” cried Shelton, “since it is you, and your dishonest management of his estates, that have brought him to this pass.”

Jasper smiled sardonically.

“Say rather that it is I who have constantly warned him against every fresh extravagance, knowing full well what must happen.  Ask him yourself, if you doubt my word; ask him whether I have not implored him, time and time again, to relinquish at least some of his many ruinous pleasures and follies; to deny himself at least one expenditure.”

Adrien turned his dark eyes to his father’s stern face.

“Sir,” he said gently, “I really do not see why this scene should continue.  If any explanations are necessary, Mr. Vermont shall give them to me.”

Vermont turned away with a scornful laugh, but Shelton grasped his arm.

“One minute,” he said, “before you sneak away.”

“Keep your hands off me, you moneyed fool,” cried Vermont, wrenching himself free from the other’s grasp.  “I know nothing about this City business, you must apply to Harker himself.  It is your name that is forged, not mine—­though I suppose you want to screen the real criminal and fix on me as a scapegoat.”

Shelton was about to retort, but Adrien intervened.

“Tell me one thing,” he said quietly.  “What has been your motive for all this?  I cannot believe that gain was your sole object.  What harm have I ever wrought you, Jasper?  Something else must have inspired your conduct.  I ask you to give me the reason.”

There was a dead silence as the gentle words were spoken.  Jasper raised his eyes to the pale face of the man he had so basely betrayed, and bit his bloodless lips in dogged silence.

At this moment a commotion was heard at the lower end of the terrace.  Some of the servants were trying to prevent the approach of a man, who was striving to get nearer to the little group.  But he was too strong for them; with a bound he had freed himself from their restraining arms, and sprang forward, as if about to strike at Adrien.  But Shelton thrust himself forward and bore him back.