“Ruin to the Lambert family.  I told you so.”

“You have only told me scraps so far.  I don’t understand how you can arrive at the conclusion that Garvington is guilty.  Agnes, don’t go on crying in so unnecessary a way.  If things have to be faced, surely we are strong enough to face them.  Don’t let our emotions make fools of us.  Stop it!  Stop it!” he said sharply and stamping.  “Dry your eyes and explain matters.”

“I—­I can’t help my feelings,” faltered Agnes, beginning to respond to the spur, and becoming calmer.

“Yes, you can.  I don’t offer you brandy or smelling salts, or anything of the sort, because I know you to be a woman with a firm mind.  Exert your will, and compel your nerves to be calm.  This exhibition is too cheap.”

“Oh,” cried Agnes indignantly, and this feeling was the one Lambert wished to arouse, “how can you talk so?”

“Because I love you and respect you,” he retorted.

She knew that he meant what he said, and that her firmness of mind and self-control had always appealed to him, therefore she made a great effort and subdued her unruly nerves.  Lambert gave her no assistance, and merely walked up and down the room while waiting for her to recover.  It was not easy for her to be herself immediately, as she really was shaken, and privately considered that he expected too much.  But pride came to her aid, and she gradually became more composed.  Meanwhile Lambert pulled up the blind to display the ugly room in all its deformity, and the sight—­as he guessed it would—­extorted an exclamation from her.

“Oh, how can you live in this horrid place?” she asked irrelevantly.

“Necessity knows no law.  Are you better?”

“Yes; I am all right.  But you are brutal, Noel.”

“I wouldn’t have been brutal to a weaker woman,” he answered.  “And by acting as I have done, I show how much I think of you.”

“Rather a strange way of showing approval.  But your drastic methods have triumphed.  I am quite composed, and shall tell you of our disgrace in as unemotional a manner as if I were reckoning pounds, shillings and pence.”

“Disgrace?” Lambert fastened on the one word anxiously.  “To us?”

“To Garvington in the first place.  But sit down and listen.  I shall tell you everything, from the moment Clara came to see me.”

Lambert nodded and resumed his seat.  Agnes, with wonderful coolness, detailed Miss Greeby’s visit and production of the letter.  Thence she passed on to explain how she had tricked Garvington into confession.  “But he did not confess,” interrupted Lambert at this point.