"Betrayed my confidence?"
"Nothing of the sort, sir, she merely said you did not consider Mr. Beaumont a good companion for a young man, nothing more--is it true?"
"Perfectly true. I know what Beaumont is from my own experience of him--he will drag Reginald Blake down to the lowest depths of degradation."
The woman tightened her thin lips ominously.
"I don't think so if I can help it," she said grimly.
"Then if you can help it--if you have any power over him--take Blake away from his influence or he will ruin him."
"Are you sure?"
"Sure," he repeated bitterly, "I know it only too well to my own cost, God help me! Basil Beaumont is a devil, and never rests till he makes his friends as base as himself. Blake has got money, Beaumont wants that money, and will let nothing stand in his way to procure it."
"He had better not set himself up against me."
"What do you know about him?"