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knows you were once very fond of Miss Proctorknows you were
engaged to her。〃
〃But；〃 protested Herbert； 〃Sally sees your photographs of Aline。
What difference can a few more make？ After she's seen a dozen
she gets used to them。〃
No sooner had Herbert left him than the custodian of the treasure
himself selected the photographs he would display。 In them the
young woman he hadfrom the front row of the orchestraso
ardently admired appeared in a new light。 To Cochran they seemed
at once to render her more kindly； more approachable； to show her
as she really was； the sort of girl any youth would find it extremely
difficult not to love。 Cochran found it extremely easy。 The photographs
gave his imagination all the room it wanted。 He believed they also gave
him an insight into her real character that was denied to anybody else。
He had always credited her with all the virtues； he now endowed her
with every charm of mind and body。 In a week to the two photographs
he had selected from the loan collection for purposes of display and to
give Herbert melancholy pleasure he had added three more。 In two
weeks there were half a dozen。 In a month； nobly framed in silver；
in leather of red； green； and blue； the entire collection smiled upon him
from every part of his bedroom。 For he now kept them where no one
but himself could see them。 No longer was he of a mind to share
his borrowed treasure with othersnot even with the rightful
owner。
Chester Griswold； spurred on by Aline Proctor； who wanted to
build a summer home on Long Island； was motoring with Post； of
Post & Constant； in the neighborhood of Westbury。 Post had
pointed out several houses designed by his firm； which he hoped
might assist Griswold in making up his mind as to the kind of
house he wanted； but none they had seen had satisfied his client。
〃What I want is a cheap house；〃 explained the young millionaire。
〃I don't really want a house at all；〃 he complained。 〃It's Miss
Proctor's idea。 When we are married I intend to move into my
mother's town house； but Miss Proctor wants one for herself in
the country。 I've agreed to that； but it must be small and it
must be cheap。〃
〃Cheap〃 was a word that the clients of Post & Constant never
used； but Post knew the weaknesses of some of the truly rich； and
he knew also that no house ever built cost only what the
architect said it would cost。
〃I know the very house you want！〃 he exclaimed。 〃One of our
young men owns it。 He made it over from an old farmhouse。 It's
very well arranged； we've used his ground…plan several times and
it works out splendidly。 If he's not at home； I'11 show you over the
place myself。 And if you like the house he's the man to build you one。〃
When they reached Cochran's home he was at Garden City playing
golf； but the servant knew Mr。 Post； and to him and his client
threw open every room in the house。
〃Now； this；〃 exclaimed the architect enthusiastically； 〃is the
master's bedroom。 In your case it would probably be your wife's
room and you would occupy the one adjoining； which Cochran now
uses as a guest…room。 As you see； they are entirely cut off from…〃
Mr。 Griswold did not see。 Up to that moment he had given every
appearance of being both bored and sulky。 Now his attention was
entirely engagedbut not upon the admirable simplicity of Mr。
Cochran's ground…plan； as Mr。 Post had hoped。 Instead； the eyes
of the greatest catch in America were intently regarding a display
of photographs that smiled back at him from every corner of the
room。 Not only did he regard these photographs with a savage glare；
but he approached them and carefully studied the inscriptions scrawled
across the face of each。
Post himself cast a glance at the nearest photographs； and then
hastily manoeuvred his client into the hall and closed the door。
〃We will now；〃 he exclaimed； 〃visit the butler's pantry； which
opens upon the dining…room and kitchen； thus saving〃
But Griswold did not hear him。 Without giving another glance at
the house he stamped out of it and； plumping himself down in the
motor…car； banged the door。 Not until Post had driven him well
into New York did he make any comment。
〃What did you say；〃 he then demanded； 〃is the name of the man who
owns that last house we saw？〃
Post told him。
〃I never heard of him！〃 said Griswold as though he were
delivering young Cochran's death sentence。 〃Who is he？〃
〃He's an architect in our office；〃 said Post。 〃We think a lot of
him。 He'll leave us soon； of course。 The best ones always do。 His
work is very popular。 So is he。〃
〃I never heard of him；〃 repeated Griswold。 Then； with sudden
heat； he added savagely： 〃But I mean to to…night。〃
When Griswold had first persuaded Aline Proctor to engage herself
to him he had suggested that； to avoid embarrassment； she should
tell him the names of the other men to whom she had been engaged。
〃What kind of embarrassment would that avoid？〃
〃If I am talking to a man；〃 said Griswold； 〃and he knows the
woman I'm going to marry was engaged to him and I don't know
that； he has me at a disadvantage。〃
〃I don't see that he has；〃 said Aline。 〃If we suppose； for the sake
of argument； that to marry me is desirable； I would say that the
man who was going to marry me had the advantage over the one
I had declined to marry。〃
〃I want to know who those men are；〃 explained Griswold； 〃because
I want to avoid them。 I don't want to talk to them。 I don't want
even to know them。〃
〃I don't see how I can help you；〃 said Aline。 〃I haven't the
slightest objection to telling you the names of the men I have
cared for； if I can remember them； but I certainly do not intend
to tell you the name of any man who cared for me enough to ask me
to marry him。 That's his secret； not minecertainly not yours。〃
Griswold thought he was very proud。 He really was very vain； and
as jealousy is only vanity in its nastiest development he was
extremely jealous。 So he persisted。
〃Will you do this？〃 he demanded。 〃If I ever ask you； 'Is that one
of the men you cared for？' will you tell me？〃
〃If you wish it；〃 said Aline； 〃but I can't see any health in it。
It will only make you uncomfortable。 So long as you know I have
given you the greatest and truest love I am capable of； why
should you concern yourself with my mistakes？〃
〃So that I can avoid meeting what you call your mistakes；〃 said
Griswold〃 and being friendly with them。〃
〃I assure you；〃 laughed Aline； 〃it wouldn't hurt you a bit to be
as friendly with them as they'd let you。 Maybe they weren't as
proud of their families as you are； but they made up for that by
being a darned sight prouder of me！〃
Later； undismayed by this and unashamed； on two occasions
Griswold actually did demand of Aline if a genial youth she had
just greeted joyfully was one of those for whom she once had
cared。
And Aline had replied promptly and truthfully that he was。 But in
the case of Charles Cochran； Griswold did not ask Aline if he was
one of those for whom she once had cared。 He considered the
affair with Cochran so serious that； in regard to that man； he
adopted a different course。