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In digging rivals out of the past his jealousy had made him
indefatigable； but in all his researches he never had heard the
name of Charles Cochran。 That fact and the added circumstance
that Aline herself never had mentioned the man was in his eyes so
suspicious as to be almost a damning evidence of deception。 And
he argued that if in the past Aline had deceived him as to Charles
Cochran she would continue to do so。 Accordingly； instead
of asking her frankly for the truth he proceeded to lay traps for
it。 And if there is one thing Truth cannot abide； it is being
hunted by traps。
That evening Aline and he were invited to a supper in her honor；
and as he drove her from the theatre to the home of their hostess
he told her of his search earlier in the day。
The electric light in the limousine showed Aline's face as
clearly as though it were held in a spotlight； and as he prepared
his trap Griswold regarded her jealously。
〃Post tells me；〃 he said； 〃he has the very man you want for your
architect。 He's sure you'll find him most understanding andand…
…
sympathetic。 He's a young man who is just coming to the front；
and he's very popular； especially with women。〃
〃What's his being popular with women；〃 asked Aline； 〃got to do
with his carrying out my ideas of a house？〃
〃That's just it；〃 said Griswold〃it's the woman who generally has
the most to say as to how her house shall be built； and this man
understands woman。 I have reasons for believing he will certainly
understand you！〃
〃If he understands me well enough to give me all the
linen…closets I want；〃 said Aline； 〃he will be perfectly
satisfactory。〃
Before delivering his blow Griswold sank back into his corner of
the car； drew his hat brim over his forehead； and fixed spying
eyes upon the very lovely face of the girl he had asked to marry
him。
〃His name；〃 he said in fateful tones； 〃is Charles Cochran！〃
It was supposed to be a body blow； but； to his distress； Aline
neither started nor turned pale。 Neither； for trying to trick
her； did she turn upon him in reproof and anger。 Instead； with
alert eyes； she continued to peer out of the window at the
electric…light advertisements and her beloved Broadway。
〃Well？〃 demanded Griswold； his tone was hoarse and heavy with
meaning。
〃Well what？〃 asked Aline pleasantly。
〃How；〃 demanded Griswold； 〃do you like Charles Cochran for an
architect？〃
〃How should I know？〃 asked Aline。 〃I've not met him yet！〃
She had said it！ And she had said it without the waver of one of
her lovely eyelashes。 No wonder the public already hailed her as
a finished actress！ Griswold felt that his worst fears were
justified。 She had lied to him。 And； as he knew she had never
before lied to him； that now she did so proved beyond hope of
doubt that the reason for it was vital； imperative； and compelling。
But of his suspicions Griswold gave no sign。 He would not at
once expose her。 He had trapped her； but as yet she must not
know that。 He would wait until he had still further entangled
heruntil she could not escape； and then； with complete proof
of her deceit； he would confront and overwhelm her。
With this amiable purpose in mind he called early the next morning
upon Post & Constant and asked to see Mr。 Cochran。 He wished；
he said； to consult him about the new house。 Post had not yet
reached the office； and of Griswold's visit with Post to his house
Cochran was still ignorant。 He received Griswold most courteously。
He felt that the man who was loved by the girl he also had long and
hopelessly worshipped was deserving of the highest consideration。
Griswold was less magnanimous。 When he found his rivalfor as
such he beheld himwas of charming manners and gallant appearance
he considered that fact an additional injury； but he concealed his
resentment； for he was going to trap Cochran； too。
He found the architect at work leaning over a drawing…board； and
as they talked Cochran continued to stand。 He was in his shirt…sleeves；
which were rolled to his shoulders； and the breadth of those shoulders
and the muscles of his sunburned arms were much in evidence。
Griswold considered it a vulgar exhibition。
For over ten minutes they talked solely of the proposed house；
but not once did Griswold expose the fact that he had seen any
more of it than any one might see from the public road。 When he
rose to take his leave he said：
〃How would it do if I motored out Sunday and showed your house
to Miss Proctor？ Sunday is the only day she has off； and if it would not
inconvenience you〃
The tender heart of Cochran leaped in wild tumult； he could not
conceal his delight； nor did he attempt to do so； and his expression
made it entirely unnecessary for him to assure Griswold that such a
visit would be entirely welcome and that they might count on finding
him at home。 As though it were an afterthought； Griswold halted at
the door and said：
〃I believe you are already acquainted with Miss Proctor。〃
Cochran； conscious of five years of devotion； found that he was
blushing； and longed to strangle himself。 Nor was the blush lost
upon Griswold。
〃I'm sorry；〃 said Cochran； 〃but I've not had that honor。 On the
stage； of course〃
He shrugged the broad shoulders deprecatingly； as though to suggest
that not to know Miss Proctor as an artist argues oneself unknown。
Griswold pretended to be puzzled。 As though endeavoring to recall
a past conversation he frowned。
〃But Aline；〃 he said； 〃told me she had met you…met you at Bar
Harbor。〃 In the fatal photographs the familiar landfalls of Bar
Harbor had been easily recognized。
The young architect shook his head。
〃It must be another Cochran；〃 he suggested。 〃I have never been in
Bar Harbor。〃
With the evidence of the photographs before him this last
statement was a verdict of guilty； and Griswold； not with the
idea of giving Cochran a last chance to be honest； but to cause
him to dig the pit still deeper； continued to lead him on。 〃Maybe
she meant York Harbor？〃
Again Cochran shook his head and laughed。
〃Believe me；〃 he said； 〃if I'd ever met Miss Proctor anywhere I
wouldn't forget it！〃
Ten minutes later Griswold was talking to Aline over the telephone。
He intended to force matters。 He would show Aline she could neither
trifle with nor deceive Chester Griswold； but the thought that he had
been deceived was not what most hurt him。 What hurt him was to
think that Aline had preferred a man who looked like an advertisement
for ready…made clothes and who worked in his shirt…sleeves。
Griswold took it for granted that any woman would be glad to marry him。
So many had been willing to do so that he was convinced； when one of
them was not； it was not because there was anything wrong with him；
but because the girl herself lacked taste and perception。
That the others had been in any degree moved by his many millions
had never suggested itself。 He was convinced each had loved him for
himself alone； and if Aline； after meeting him； would still consider any
one else； it was evident something was very wrong with Aline。 He was
determined that she must be chastenedmust be brought to a prop