The party on the steps ceased chatting and began to stare.

“This is not the place to call me to account, sir,” said Douglas, still on his guard, and very ill at ease.  “If you have anything to say to me which cannot be communicated through a friend, it had better be said in private.”

“I shall trouble you for a short conversation,” said Conolly.  “How do you do, Lind?  Where can we go?  I do not belong to any club.”

“My apartments are at hand,” said Douglas.

“I suppose I had better leave you,” said Marmaduke.

“Your presence will not embarrass me in the least,” said Conolly.

“I have not sought this interview,” said Douglas.  “I therefore prefer Mr. Lind to witness what passes.”

Conolly nodded assent; and they went to a house on the doorstep of which Douglas’s man was waiting, and ascended to the front drawing-room.

“Now, sir,” said Douglas, without inviting his guests to sit down.  Conolly alone took off his hat.  Marmaduke went aside, and looked out of the window.

“I know the circumstances that have led to your return,” said Conolly; “so we need not go into that.  I want you, however, to assist me on one point.  Do you know what Marian’s pecuniary position is at present?’

“I decline to admit that it concerns me in any way.”

“Of course not.  But it concerns me, as I do not wish that she should be without money in a foreign city.  She has telegraphed a question about her property to Miss McQuinch.  That by itself is nothing; but her new address, which I first saw on a letter this morning, happens to be known to me as that of a rather shabby lodging-house.”

“I know nothing of it.”

“I do:  it means that she is poor.  I can guess at the sum she carried with her to America.  Now, if you will be good enough to tell me whether you have ever given her money; if so, how much; and what her expenditure has been, you will enable me to estimate her position at present.”

“I do not know that you have any right to ask such questions.”

“I do not assert any right to ask them.  On the contrary, I have explained their object.  I shall not press them, if you think that an answer will in any way compromise you.”

“I have no fear of being compromised.  None whatever.”

Conolly nodded, and waited for an answer.

“I may say that my late trip has cost me a considerable sum.  I paid all the expenses; and Miss—­Mrs. Conolly did not, to my knowledge, disburse a single fraction.  She did not ask me to give her money.  Had she done so, I should have complied at once.”

“Thank you.  Thats all right:  she will be able to hold out until she hears from us.  Good-afternoon.”

“Allow me to add, sir, before you go,” said Douglas, asserting himself desperately against Conolly’s absolutely sincere disregard of him and preoccupation with Marian, “that Mrs. Conolly has been placed in her present position entirely through her own conduct.  I repudiate the insinuation that I have deserted her in a foreign city; and I challenge inquiry on the point.”