“Indeed it does.  I have been wondering what Miss Bride will think about it.  Of course I couldn’t speak to her on the subject.  One almost feels as if she ought at all events to give half that money to Miss Tomalin, considering the terms on which she receives it.”

“But,” objected Dyce, “that wouldn’t be fulfilling the conditions of the bequest, which, I happen to know, were very specific.  Really, it’s a most unfortunate thing that Lady Ogram died so suddenly, most unfortunate.  What a serious injustice is done to that poor girl!”

“After all, Mr. Lashmar,” fell sweetly from the other’s lips, “her position might be worse.”

“How?  Has she an income of her own?”

“Oh, a trifling annuity, not worth mentioning.  But I didn’t speak of that.  I meant that, happily, her future is in the hands of an honourable man.  It would have been sad indeed if she had owed this calamity to the intrigues of a mere fortune-hunter.  As it is, a girl of her spirit and intelligence will very soon forget the disappointment.  Indeed, it is much more on another’s account than on her own that she grieves over what has happened.”

Lashmar was perusing the floor.  Slowly he raised his eyes, until they met Mrs. Toplady’s.  The two looked steadily at each other.

“Are you speaking of me?” Dyce inquired, in a low voice.

“Of whom else could I be speaking, Mr. Lashmar?”

“Then Miss Tomalin has taken you entirely into her confidence?”

“Entirely, I am happy to say.  I am sure you won’t be displeased.  It goes without saying that she does not know I am having this conversation with you.”

“I think, Mrs. Toplady,” said Dyce, with deliberation, “that you had better tell me, if you will, exactly what you have heard from Miss Tomalin.  We shall be more sure of understanding each other.”

“That’s easily done.  She told me of your railway journey together, of your subsequent meetings, of what happened with Lord Dymchurch, and, last of all, what happened with Lady Ogram.”

“Probably,” said Dyce, “not all that happened with Lady Ogram.  Did she mention that, instead of remaining loyal to me, as I was all through to her, she did her best to injure me with Lady Ogram by betraying a secret I had entrusted to her?”

“I know what you refer to.  Yes, she told me, of that unfortunate incident, and spoke of it with deep regret.  The poor girl simply lost her head; for a moment she could think of nothing but self-preservation.  Put yourself in her place.  She saw utter ruin before her, and was driven almost crazy.  I can assure you that she was not responsible for that piece of disloyalty.  I am afraid not many girls would have been more heroic in such a terrible situation.  You, a philosopher, must take account of human. weakness.”

“I hope I can do that,” said Lashmar, with a liberal air.  “Under other circumstances, I should hardly have mentioned the thing.  But it convinced me at the time that Miss Tomalin had deceived herself as to her feeling for me, and now that everything is necessarily at an end between us, I prefer to see it still in the same light, for it assures me that she has suffered no injury at my hands.”