After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.  In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.

The graceful insouciance of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.  Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.

“Good-morning, Cuthbert, I must compliment you on your early hours.  How is Maud?”

“I have not seen her this morning.  Victorine usually takes her out at this time of the day.  I hope after a night’s reflection and rest, you feel disposed to afford me more comfort than you extended last evening.  The fact is, unless you come forward and help me, I shall be utterly ruined.”

General Laurance lighted his cigar, and, standing before his son, answered coldly: 

“I beg you to recollect that my resources are not quite inexhaustible, and last year when I gave that Chicago property to you, I explained the necessity of curbing your reckless extravagance.  Were I possessed of Rothschild’s income, it would not suffice to keep upon his feet a man who sells himself to the Devil of the gaming table, and entertains with the prodigality of a crown prince.  I never dreamed until last night that the real estate at home is encumbered by mortgages, and it will be an everlasting shame if the homestead should be sacrificed; but I can do no more for you.  This failure of Ames is a disgraceful affair, and I understand soils his reputation—­past all hope of purification.  How long does Abbie expect to remain in Nice?  It does not look well, I can tell you, that she should go off and leave Maud with her bonne.”

“Oh! for that matter, Maud is better off here, where she can be seen regularly by the physician, and Victorine knows much better what to do for her than her mother.  Abbie is perfectly acquainted with the change in her father’s and in my own affairs, and I should suppose she would have returned immediately after the receipt of the intelligence, especially as I informed her that we should be compelled to return to America.”

“I shall telegraph her to come back at once, for I hear that she is leading a very gay life at Nice, and that her conduct is not wholly compatible with her duties as a wife and mother.”

An expression of subdued scorn passed over Cuthbert’s face, as he answered sarcastically: 

“Probably your influence may avail to hasten her return.  As for her peculiar views, and way of conducting herself, I imagine it is rather too late for you to indulge in fastidious carpings, as you selected and presented her to me as a suitable bride, particularly acceptable to you for a daughter-in-law.