a fidget, a fidget of importance and
expectancy.

"You will know," said Edge gravely, "that no ordinary matter has led me
to call on you, Mr Tristram. However little we may be responsible for
the past, we have to recognize it. I should not, under ordinary
circumstances, have sought your acquaintance. You must consider this
interview purely as one of a business kind. I have just returned to
England. For two months I have been out of the way of receiving letters
or newspapers. I went to the Imperium Club to-night--I arrived only
this morning--and dined in Neeld's company. As it chanced, we spoke of
you, and I learnt what has happened since I left England. I have lost no
time in calling on you."

Neeld was listening and fidgeting with his sheets of paper. The
Colonel's preamble excited little interest in Harry. The reaction of his
struggle was on him; he was courteously but not keenly attentive.

"It is not agreeable to me to speak of my brother to you, Mr Tristram.
Doubtless we should differ if we discussed his character and conduct. It
is not necessary."

"Is Sir Randolph Edge concerned in what you have to say to me?" asked
Harry.

"Yes, I am sorry to say he is. Another person is concerned also."

"One moment. You are, of course, aware that I no longer represent my
family? Legally I'm not even a member of it. It is possible that you
ought to address yourself to Lady Tristram--my cousin--or to her
lawyers."

"I have to speak to you. Is the name of the Comtesse d'Albreville known
to you, Mr Tristram?"

"Yes, I've heard my mother speak of meeting her in Paris."

"That would be when Lady Tristram was residing with my brother?"

"My mother was never in Paris after that, I believe. It would be at that
time, Colonel Edge."

"You are aware that later--after he parted from Lady Tristram--my
brother went to Russia, where he had business interests?"

"I have very good reason to know that." Harry smiled at Mr Neeld, who
had apparently got all he could out of his papers, and was sitting quiet
and upright in an eager attention.

"What I am about to say is known, I believe, to myself alone--and to
Neeld here, to whom I told it to-night. While my brother was in Russia,
he was joined by the Comtesse. She paid him a visit--secretly, I need
hardly add. She passed under the name of Madame Valfier, and she resided
in the house adjoining Randolph's. Lady Tristram was not, of course,
aware of the relations between her and my b