“She is certainly a superior woman,” admitted Ryder.  “I wish she’d ward that Rossmore girl off.  I wish she—­” He stopped abruptly as if not venturing to give expression to his thoughts, even to his wife.  Then he said:  “If she were Kate Roberts she wouldn’t let Jeff slip through her fingers.”

“I have often wished,” went on Mrs. Ryder, “that Kate were more like Shirley Green.  I don’t think we would have any difficulty with Jeff then.”

“Kate is the daughter of Senator Roberts, and if this marriage is broken off in any way without the senator’s consent, he is in a position to injure my interests materially.  If you see Jefferson send him to me in the library.  I’ll go and keep Roberts in good humour until he comes.”

He went downstairs and Mrs. Ryder proceeded to her apartments, where she found Jefferson chatting with Kate.  She at once delivered Ryder Sr.’s message.

“Jeff, your father wants to see you in the library.”

“Yes, I want to see him,” answered the young man grimly, and after a few moments more badinage with Kate he left the room.

It was not a mere coincidence that had brought Senator Roberts and his daughter and the financier’s son all together under the Ryder roof at the same time.  It was part of Jefferson’s well-prepared plan to expose the rascality of his father’s secretary, and at the same time rid himself of the embarrassing entanglement with Kate Roberts.  If the senator were confronted publicly with the fact that his daughter, while keeping up the fiction of being engaged to Ryder Jr., was really preparing to run off with the Hon. Fitzroy Bagley, he would have no alternative but to retire gracefully under fire and relinquish all idea of a marriage alliance with the house of Ryder.  The critical moment had arrived.  To-morrow, Wednesday, was the day fixed for the elopement.  The secretary’s little game had gone far enough.  The time had come for action.  So Jefferson had written to Senator Roberts, who was in Washington, asking him if it would be convenient for him to come at once to New York and meet himself and his father on a matter of importance.  The senator naturally jumped to the conclusion that Jefferson and Ryder had reached an amicable understanding, and he immediately hurried to New York and with his daughter came round to Seventy-fourth Street.

When Ryder Sr. entered the library, Senator Roberts was striding nervously up and down the room.  This, he felt, was an important day.  The ambition of his life seemed on the point of being attained.

“Hello, Roberts,” was Ryder’s cheerful greeting.  “What’s brought you from Washington at a critical time like this?  The Rossmore impeachment needs every friend we have.”

“Just as if you didn’t know,” smiled the senator uneasily, “that I am here by appointment to meet you and your son!”

“To meet me and my son?” echoed Ryder astonished.

The senator, perplexed and beginning to feel real alarm, showed the financier Jefferson’s letter.  Ryder read it and he looked pleased.