He had learned his lesson.
To whom then could he go?
Through whom could he reach Gerald?
Through Nina?
Useless.

And Gerald had already defied Austin.

Through Neergard, then?
But he was on no terms with Neergard; how could he go to him?
Through Rosamund Fane?
At the thought he made a wry face.

Any advances from him she would wilfully misinterpret.

And Ruthven?
How on earth could he bring himself to approach him?
And the problem therefore remained as it was; the only chance of any solution apparently depending upon these friends of Gerald's, not one of whom was a friend of Selwyn; indeed some among them were indifferent to the verge of open enmity.
And yet he had promised Eileen to do what he could.