Eugene would never face the turmoil necessary to break it off.
"I am the man," said Sir Roderick to himself.

"I couldn't catch the parson, but if I can't catch Miss Kate, call me an ass!" And he took train to Baden, sending off a wire to Morewood to join him if he could, for a considerable friendship existed between them.
Morewood, however, wouldn't come, and Ayre was forced to make the journey in solitude.
"I thought I should bring him!" exclaimed Lord Rickmansworth triumphantly, as he received his friend on the platform, and conducted him to a very perfect drag which stood at the door.

"Oh, you old thief!" Rickmansworth was a tall, broad, reddish-faced young man, with a jovial laugh, infinite capacity for being amused at things not intrinsically humorous, and manners that he had tried, fortunately with imperfect success, to model on those of a prize-fighter.

Ayre liked him for what he was, while shuddering at what he tried to be.
"I didn't come on that account at all," he said, "I came to look after some business." "Get out!" said the Earl pleasantly; "do you think I don't know you ?" Ayre allowed himself to yield in silence.

His motives were a little mixed; and, anyhow, it was not at the moment desirable to explain them.
His vindication would wait.
In the afternoon he paid his call on Mrs.Welman.She was delighted to see him, not only as a man of social repute, but also because the good lady was in no little distress of mind.