"We have an idea that at any moment there may be war between us and your father.

I think that the odds would be very much in our favour but for one thing.

Your father has a paper which we foolishly enough all signed one night, which places us practically in his power.

If that paper were given to the Press, we should all of us be ruined men--I mean so far as prestige and position are concerned.
Further, I am not sure that we should not have to leave the country altogether." She looked at him in wonder.

"Whatever made you sign such a paper ?" she asked.
He shook his head.
"Heaven knows!" he answered.