The young man had the wish to say in reply, “At last, eh!” but he avoided it.

“Where has he gone?”

“I bought him out to-day, and I hear he’s going to join Belloc.”

“Belloc! Belloc! Who told you that?” asked the young man.

“Junia Shale—she told me.”

Carnac laughed. “She knows a lot, but how did she know that?”

“Sheer instinct, and I believe she’s right.”

“Right—right—to fight you, his own father!” was the inflammable reply.

“Why, that would be a lowdown business!”

“Would it be lower down than your not helping your father, when you can?”