“So,” he said sternly, “this is your latest act of rebellion, is it?  You are going to welsh on your word?  You are going to jilt the girl?”

“I never gave my word,” answered Jefferson hotly.  “Nor did Kate understand that an engagement existed.  You can’t expect me to marry a girl I don’t care a straw about.  It would not be fair to her.”

“Have you stopped to think whether it would be fair to me?” thundered his father.

His face was pale with anger, his jet-black eyes flashed, and his white hair seemed to bristle with rage.  He paced the floor for a few moments, and then turning to Jefferson, who had not moved, he said more calmly: 

“Don’t be a fool, Jeff.  I don’t want to think for you, or to choose for you, or to marry for you.  I did not interfere when you threw up the position I made for you in the Trading Company and took that studio.  I realized that you were restless under the harness, so I gave you plenty of rein.  But I know so much better than you what is best for you.  Believe me I do.  Don’t—­don’t be obstinate.  This marriage means a great deal to my interests—­to your interests.  Kate’s father is all powerful in the Senate.  He’ll never forgive this disappointment.  Hang it all, you liked the girl once, and I made sure that—­”

He stopped suddenly, and the expression on his face changed as a new light dawned upon him.

“It isn’t that Rossmore girl, is it?” he demanded.  His face grew dark and his jaw clicked as he said between his teeth:  “I told you some time ago how I felt about her.  If I thought that it was Rossmore’s daughter!  You know what’s going to happen to him, don’t you?”

Thus appealed to, Jefferson thought this was the most favourable opportunity he would have to redeem his promise to Shirley.  So, little anticipating the tempest he was about to unchain, he answered: 

“I am familiar with the charges that they have trumped up against him.  Needless to say, I consider him entirely innocent.  What’s more, I firmly believe he is the victim of a contemptible conspiracy.  And I’m going to make it my business to find out who the plotters are.  I came to ask you to help me.  Will you?”

For a moment Ryder was speechless from utter astonishment.  Then, as he realized the significance of his son’s words and their application to himself he completely lost control of himself.  His face became livid, and he brought his fist down on his desk with a force that shook the room.

“I will see him in hell first!” he cried.  “Damn him!  He has always opposed me.  He has always defied my power, and now his daughter has entrapped my son.  So it’s her you want to go to, eh?  Well, I can’t make you marry a girl you don’t want, but I can prevent you throwing yourself away on the daughter of a man who is about to be publicly disgraced, and, by God, I will.”

“Poor old Rossmore,” said Jefferson bitterly.  “If the history of every financial transaction were made known, how many of us would escape public disgrace?  Would you?” he cried.