The sudden spark that in the old days would have warned Devon's friends of an impending outburst appeared now in his black eyes, but he kept his temper.
"Would you mind confiding these plans to me?" he suggested. "They would interest me, profoundly."
Shaw shook his sleek brown head.
"Oh, I couldn't do that," he said, with an indulgent smile. "But I have a proposition to make to you. Perhaps you will listen to it, instead."
"I'll listen to it," Laurie promised.
"It is short and to the point. Give me your word that you will stop meddling in Miss Mayo's affairs, which are also my affairs," he added parenthetically, "and that you will never make an effort to see her again. As soon as you have given me this promise, I will escort you to the front door and bid you an eternal farewell, with great pleasure."
"I'm looking forward to that pleasure, myself," confessed the visitor. "But before we throw ourselves into the delights of it, suppose you outline the other side of your proposition. I suppose it has another side."
Shaw frowned at his cigar.
"It doesn't sound pretty," he confessed, with regret.
"I'll judge of that. Let's have it."