ed it,' smiled Alec. 'I shouldn't have come,
only I wanted to see Miss Allerton.'

'This fellow Macinnery proposes to make things rather uncomfortable, I
imagine.'

'I made a mistake, didn't I?' said Alec, with a thin smile. 'I should
have dropped him in the river when I had no further use for him.'

'What are you going to do?'

'Nothing.'

Dick stared at him.

'Do you mean to say you're going to sit still and let them throw mud at
you?'

'If they want to.'

'But look here, Alec, what the deuce is the meaning of the whole thing?'

Alec looked at him quietly.

'If I had intended to take the world in general into my confidence, I
wouldn't have refused to see the interviewers who came to me this
evening.'

'We've known one another for twenty years, Alec,' said Dick.

'Then you may be quite sure that if I refuse to discuss this matter with
you, it must be for excellent reasons.'

Dick sprang up excitedly.

'But, good God! you must explain. You can't let a charge like this rest
on you. After all, it's not Tom, Dick, or Harry that's concerned; it's
Lucy's brother. You must speak.'

'I've never yet discovered that I must do anything that I don't choose,'
answered Alec.

Dick flung himself into a chair. He knew that when Alec spoke in that
fashion no power on earth could move him. The whole thing was entirely
unexpected, and he was at a loss for words. He had not read the letter
which was causing all the bother, and knew only what Lady Kelsey had
told him. He had some hope that on a close examination various things
would appear which must explain Alec's attitude; but at present it was
incomprehensible.

'Has it occurred to you that Lucy is very much in love with you, Alec?'
he said at last.

Alec did not answer. He made no movement.

'What will you do if this loses you her love?'

'I have counted the cost,' said Alec, coldly.

He got up from his chair, and Dick saw that he did not wish to continue
the discussion. There was a moment of silence, and then Lucy came in.

'I've given my partner away to a wall-flower,' she said, with a faint
smile. 'I felt I must have a few words alone with you.'

'I will make myself scarce,' said Dick.

They waited till he was gone. Then Lucy turned feverishly to Alec.

'Oh, I'm so glad you've come. I wanted so much to see you.'

'I'm afraid people have been telling you horrible things about me.'

'They wanted to hide it from me.'

'It never occurred to me that