“Well, let me put it another way. Transley is a clever man of affairs. He knows how to accomplish his ends. He applied the methods—somewhat modified for the occasion—of a landshark in winning his wife. He makes a great appearance of unselfishness, but in reality he is selfish to the core. He lavishes money on her to satisfy his own vanity, but as for her finer nature, the real Zen, her soul if you like—he doesn’t even know she has one. He obtained possession by false pretences. Which is the more moral thing—to leave him in possession, or to throw him out? Didn’t you yourself hear him say that men who are worth their salt take what they want?”
“Since when did you let him set YOUR standards?”
“That’s hardly fair.”
“I think it is. I think, too, that you are arguing against your own convictions. Well, I’ve had my say. I deliberately came out to-day without Murdoch so that I might have it. You would be quite justified in firing me for what I’ve done. But now I’m through, and no matter what may happen, remember, Linder will never have suspected anything.”
“That’s like you, old chap. We’ll drop it at that, but I must explain that Zen is going to town to-night to meet Transley, and is leaving the boy with me. It is an event in my young life, and I have house-cleaned for it appropriately. Come inside and admire my handiwork.”
Linder admired as he was directed, and then the two men fell into a discussion of business matters. Eventually Grant cooked supper, and just as they had finished Mrs. Transley drove up in her motor.
“Here we are!” she cried, cheerily. “Glad to see you, Mr. Linder. Wilson has his teddy-bear and his knife and his pyjamas, and is a little put out, I think, that I wouldn’t let him bring the pig.”
“I shall try and make up the deficiency,” said Grant, smiling broadly, as the boy climbed to his shoulder. “Won’t you come in? Linder, among his other accomplishments learned in France, is an excellent chaperon.”
“Thank you, no; I must get along. I shall call early in the morning, so that you will not be delayed on Wilson’s account.”
“No need of that; he can ride to the field with me on Prince. He is a great help with the plowing.”