Aylmer looked at him debatingly.
"Yes," he allowed. "That is a possibility to be faced though I believe his resources are, or were, meagre. You will take more men and go and meet them?"
The old man made a gesture of apology.
"Yes," he said. "And, if you will pardon my curtness, at once."
"The sooner the better," agreed Aylmer, quietly, "as I hope to be allowed to accompany you?"
Van Arlen gave a little start, one that seemed to imply a doubt or a question. As if he replied to it, Aylmer gave a little nod.
"You must accept me as an ally, my dear sir," he said. "You have seen that I have a pressing need to meet Landon. I should like to do so in your company."
The other still hesitated.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because I would like to make the interview convincing—to you," said Aylmer. "Because I covet your friendship; because I want you and your family to revise their estimate of the name of Aylmer. Because," he paused and deliberated over his words for a moment, "because I want to be received by you at Villa Eulalia, inside."