He knew very well that the fact of a young lady, deserted by him who ought to have been in attendance, consoling herself with a flirtation with somebody else, was not enough for him to go upon.

He must have something more tangible than that.

He did not, indeed, look for anything that would compel Eugene to act; he had no expectation and, to do him justice, no hope of that, for he knew Eugene would act on nothing but an extreme necessity.

His hope lay in Kate herself.

On her he was prepared to have small mercy; against her he felt justified in playing the very rigor of the game.