They lingered a
minute to let her get into the drawing-room.

"Poor Maude! What will become of her if this is brought home to me?"

"And if it is not brought home to you--the fact remains the same," said
Mr. Carr, in his merciless truth.

"And our children, our children!" groaned Hartledon, a hot flush of dread
arising in his white face.

They shut themselves in with the stranger, and the conference was
renewed. Presently lights were rung for; Hedges brought them himself,
but gained nothing by the movement; for Mr. Carr heard him coming, rose
unbidden, and took them from him at the door.

Lady Hartledon's curiosity was excited. It had been aroused a little by
the stranger himself; secondly by their scared faces; thirdly by this
close conference.

"Who is that strange gentleman, Hedges?" she asked, from the
drawing-room, as the butler descended.

"I don't know, my lady."

"What is his name?"

"I have not heard it, my lady."

"He looks like a clergyman."

"He does, my lady."

Apparently Hedges was impenetrable, and she allowed him to go down. Her
curiosity was very much excited; it may be said, uneasily excited; there
is no accounting for these instincts that come over us, shadowing forth
a vague sense of dread. Although engaged out that night to more than one
place, Lady Hartledon lingered on in the drawing-room.

They came out of the room at last and passed the drawing-room door. She
pushed it to, only peeping out when they had gone by. There was nothing
to hear; they were talking of ordinary matters. The stranger, in his
strong Scotch accent, remarked what a hot day it had been. In travelling,
no doubt very, responded Mr. Carr. Lady Hartledon condescended to
cautiously put her head over the balustrades. There was no bell rung;
Lord Hartledon showed his visitor out himself.

"And now for these criminal law books, Carr, that bear upon the case," he
said, returning from the front-door.

"I must go down to my chambers for them."

"I know they can't bring it home to me; I know they can't!" he exclaimed,
in tones so painfully eager as to prove to Lady Hartledon's ears that he
thought they could, whatever the matter might be. "I'll go with you,
Carr; this uncertainty is killing me."

"There's little uncertainty about it, I fear," was the grave reply. "You
had better look the worst in the face."

They went out, intending to hail the first cab. Very much to Lord
Hartledon's surprise he saw his wife's ca