He has been fighting for his own hand ever since he was a child, it is true.

But he has fought gallantly." "My dear Miss Winwood," said Frank Ayres, "if there's a man to be envied, it's the one who has you for his champion!" "Anyone, my dear Frank, is to be envied," she retorted, "who is championed by common-sense." "All these fireworks illuminate nothing," said Colonel Winwood.

"I think we had better ask Paul to come down and see Frank.

Would you like to see him alone ?" "I had rather you stayed," said Frank Ayres.
A message was sent to Paul, and presently he appeared, very pale and haggard.
Frank Ayres met him with outstretched hand, spoke a courteous word of sympathy, apologized for coming in the hour of tragic bereavement.
Paul thanked him with equal courtesy.

"I was about to write to you, Lord Francis," he continued, "a sort of statement in explanation of what happened last night--" "Our friends have told me all, I think, that you may have to say." "I shall still write it," said Paul, "so that you can have it in black and white.