But if--" He paused.
Sir William spoke: "There is but one person in the world who knows the child's father; and I could not ask him, though I have known him long and well--indeed, no." "I do not ask to understand more," Gaston replied.

"I almost wish I had known nothing.

And yet I will ask one thing: is the girl in comfort and good surroundings ?" "The best--ah, yes, the very best." There was a pause, in which both sat thinking; then Sir William wrote out a cheque and offered it, with a hint of emotion.

He was recalling how he had done the same with this boy's father.
Gaston understood.

He got up, and said: "Honestly, sir, I don't know how I shall turn out here; for, if I didn't like it, it couldn't hold me, or, if it did, I should probably make things uncomfortable.