The fact leaped at him, but it was part of his profession not to be afraid of facts.  If they possessed adverse qualities one recognized them boldly, in the practise of law, chiefly with a view of circumventing them.  The matter presented itself first of all, not as one involving emotional or moral issues, but as an annoying arrangement of circumstances which might cheat him out of what he had honestly acquired.  He had no intention of being cheated by any one whatever; and as he made a rapid summary of the points of the case he saw that the balance of probabilities was in his favor.  It was to make that clear to Ford that he led the conversation back again to the subject of his adventures, tempting him to repeat at least a portion of his hymn of praise.  By the time he had finished it Conquest was able to resume the friendly, confidential tone with which they had begun the evening.

“It’s very satisfactory to me, old man,” he said, between quiet puffs at his cigar, “to know that you think so highly of Miss Strange, because—­I don’t know whether you have heard it—­she and I are to be married before long.”

He looked to see Ford disconcerted by this announcement and was surprised to see him take it coolly.

“Yes; I knew that.  I’ve meant to congratulate you when the time came.  I should say it had come now.”

There was a candor about him that Conquest could scarcely discredit, though he was unwilling to trust it too far.

“Thanks, old man.  I scarcely expected you to be so well posted.  May I ask how—?”

“Oh, I’ve known it a long time.  Miss Strange told me before I went to South America last spring.”

This evidence of a confidential relation between the two gave him a second shock, but he postponed its consideration, contenting himself for the moment with making it plain to Ford that “Hands off!” must be the first rule of the game.  His next move was meant to carry the play into the opponent’s quarters.

“As a matter of fact, I’ve never congratulated you,” he said, with apparent tranquillity.  “I’ve known about you and Evie for some time past, but—­”

“Oh, that’s all off.  In the existing circumstances Evie didn’t feel like—­keeping the thing up.”

“That’s too bad.  You’ve been pretty hard hit—­what?  When a fellow is as game as you a girl should stand by him, come now!  But I know Evie.  I’ve known her from her cradle.  She’ll back round, you’ll see.  When we’ve pulled you through, as we’re going to, she’ll take another view of things.  I know for a fact that she’s been head over heels in love with you ever since her trip to Buenos Aires.”

As Ford made no remark, Conquest felt it well to drive the point home.

“We can all help in that, old boy; and you can count on us—­both on Miss Strange and me.  No one has such influence over Evie as Miriam, and I know she’s very keen on seeing you and her—­you and Evie, I mean—­hit it off.  I don’t mind telling you that, as a matter of fact, it’s been Miriam’s anxiety on Evie’s account that has mixed me up in your case at all.  I don’t say that I haven’t got interested in you for your own sake; but it was she who stirred me up in the first place.  It’s going to mean a lot to her to see you get through—­and marry Evie.”