Austin puffed once or twice at his cigar and frowned; and Selwyn, absently watching the dying embers on the hearth, waited in silence.

“One thing,” repeated Austin, reaching for the tongs and laying a log of white birch across the coals; “and that is Gerald’s fondness for pretty girls. . . .  Not that it isn’t all right, too, but I hope he isn’t going to involve himself—­hang a millstone around his neck before he can see his way clear to some promise of a permanent income based on—­”

“Pooh!” said Selwyn.

“What’s that?” demanded Austin, turning red.

Selwyn laughed.  “What did you have when you married my sister?”

Austin, still red and dignified, said: 

“Your sister is a very remarkable woman—­extremely unusual.  I had the good sense to see that the first time I ever met her.”

“Gerald will see the same thing when his time comes,” said Selwyn quietly.  “Don’t worry, Austin; he’s sound at the core.”

Austin considered his cigar-end, turning it round and round.  “There’s good stock in the boy; I always knew it—­even when he acted like a yellow pup.  You see, Phil, that my treatment of him was the proper treatment.  I was right in refusing to mollycoddle him or put up with any of his callow, unbaked impudence.  You know yourself that you wanted me to let up on him—­make all kinds of excuses.  Why, man, if I had given him an inch leeway he’d have been up to his ears in debt.  But I was firm.  He saw I’d stand no fooling.  He didn’t dare contract debts which he couldn’t pay.  So now, Phil, you can appreciate the results of my attitude toward him.”

“I can, indeed,” said Selwyn thoughtfully.

“I think I’ve made a man of him,” persisted Austin.

“He’s certainly a manly fellow,” nodded Selwyn.

“You admit it?”

“Certainly, Austin.”

“Well, I’m glad of it.  You thought me harsh—­oh, I know you did!—­but I don’t blame you.  I knew what I was about.  Why, Phil, if I hadn’t taken the firm stand I took that boy would have been running to Nina and Eileen—­he did go to his sister once, but he never dared try it again!—­and he’d probably have borrowed money of Neergard and—­by Jove! he might even have come to you to get him out of his scrapes!”

“Oh, scarcely that,” protested Selwyn with grave humour.

“That’s all you know about it,” nodded Austin, wise-eyed, smoking steadily.  “And all I have to say is that it’s fortunate for everybody that I stood my ground when he came around looking for trouble.  For you’re just the sort of a man, Phil, who’d be likely to strip yourself if that young cub came howling for somebody to pay his debts of honour.  Admit it, now; you know you are.”

But Selwyn only smiled and looked into the fire.

After a few moments’ silence Austin said curiously:  “You’re a frugal bird.  You used to be fastidious.  Do you know that coat of yours is nearly the limit?”