“I don’t think so—­”

“Yes, he will stay,” said Eileen calmly.

And, when Austin had gone, she walked swiftly over to where Selwyn was standing, and looked him directly in the eyes.

“Is all well with Gerald?”

“Y-yes, I suppose so.”

“Is he still with Neergard & Co.?”

“Yes, Eileen.”

“And you don’t like Mr. Neergard?”

“N-no.”

“Then Gerald must not remain.”

He said very quietly:  “Eileen, Gerald no longer takes me into his confidence.  I am afraid—­I know, in fact—­that I have little influence with him now.  I am sorry; it hurts; but your brother is his own master, and he is at liberty to choose his own friends and his own business policy.  I cannot influence him; I have learned that thoroughly.  Better that I retain what real friendship he has left for me than destroy it by any attempt, however gentle, to interfere in his affairs.”

She stood before him, straight, slender, her face grave and troubled.

“I cannot understand,” she said, “how he could refuse to listen to a man like you.”

“A man like me, Eileen?  Well, if I were worth listening to, no doubt he’d listen.  But the fact remains that I have not been able to hold his interest—­”

“Don’t give him up,” she said, still looking straight into his eyes.  “If you care for me, don’t give him up.”

“Care for you, Eileen!  You know I do.”

“Yes, I know it.  So you will not give up Gerald, will you?  He is—­is only a boy—­you know that; you know he has been—­perhaps—­indiscreet.  But Gerald is only a boy.  Stand by him, Captain Selwyn; because Austin does not know how to manage him—­really he doesn’t. . . .  There has been another unpleasant scene between them; Gerald told me.”

“Did he tell you why, Eileen?”

“Yes.  He told me that he had played cards for money, and he was in debt.  I know that sounds—­almost disgraceful; but is not his need of help all the greater?”

Selwyn’s eyes suddenly narrowed:  “Did you help him out, this time?”

“I—­I—­how do you mean, Captain Selwyn?” But the splendid colour in her face confirmed his certainty that she had used her own resources to help her brother pay the gambling debt; and he turned away his eyes, angry and silent.

“Yes,” she said under her breath, “I did aid him.  What of it?  Could I refuse?”

“I know.  Don’t aid him again—­that way.”

She stared:  “You mean—­”

“Send him to me, child.  I understand such matters; I—­that is—­” and in sudden exasperation inexplicable, for the moment, to them both:  “Don’t touch such matters again!  They soil, I tell you.  I will not have Gerald go to you about such things!”

“My own brother!  What do you mean?”

“I mean that, brother or not, he shall not bring such matters near you!”

“Am I to count for nothing, then, when Gerald is in trouble?” she demanded, flushing up.