“I believe you are right; but that isn’t all of it, don’t you know.  What I care most about is the governor’s losing his head in the way he has lately.  It is simply outrageous, the reports he has started in circulation!”

Hugh paused and glanced anxiously into his cousin’s face, but the frank, brotherly kindness which he read there reassured him.

“My dear cousin,” said Harold, warmly, “nothing that Ralph Mainwaring can ever say or do shall make any difference between us.  There are but two contingencies in this connection that I regret.”

“And those are what?” the younger man questioned eagerly.

“That he bears the name of Mainwaring, and that he is your father!”

“By Jove!  I’m with you on that,” the other exclaimed heartily, “and I hope you’ll win every point in the game; but I’ve been awfully cut up over what he has said and done recently.  I know that he intends to carry his threats into execution, and I’m afraid he’ll make it deucedly unpleasant for you, don’t you know.”

They had reached the club-house, and Harold Mainwaring, as he paused on the lowest step, smiled brightly into the boyish face, regarding him with such solicitude.

“I understand his intentions as well as you, and know that it would give him great delight to carry them into execution; but, my dear boy, he will never have the opportunity to even make the attempt.”

Young Mainwaring’s face brightened.  “Why, are you prepared to head him off in that direction?  By Jove!  I’m right glad to know it.  Well, I’ll be around to the Waldorf in the course of a day or two No, much obliged, but I don’t care to go into the club-rooms to-night; in fact, I haven’t been in there since the governor made that after-dinner speech of his.  Good-night!”

As Harold Mainwaring sauntered carelessly through the club-rooms, returning the greetings of the select circle of friends which he had made, he was conscious of glances of interest and undisguised curiosity from the many with whom he had no acquaintance.  No allusion was made to the subject which he well knew was in their minds, however, until, meeting Mr. Chittenden, the latter drew him aside into an alcove.

“I say, my dear Mainwaring, are you aware that your esteemed kinsman has you under strict surveillance?”

Mainwaring smiled, though his eyes flashed.  “I am aware that he has made statements to that effect, although, thus far, his ‘surveillance’ has interfered in no way either with my duties or pleasures, nor do I apprehend that it will.”

“My dear fellow, it is simply preposterous!  The man must be insane.”

“Is he here this evening?” Mainwaring inquired.

“No; to tell the truth, he has not found it so very congenial here since that outbreak of his; he seldom is here now, excepting, of course, at meals.  Mr. Whitney is here, however.”

“I came here,” Harold Mainwaring replied, “with the express purpose of meeting one or the other, or both; on the whole, it will be rather better to meet Mr. Whitney.”