at
the death.

They were coming straight down to Blent. That fact assumed an important
place in Neeld's review of the situation. And his presence was
requested. He put these two things together. They must mean that the
secret was to be told that evening at Blent, and that he was to be
vouched as evidence, if by chance Cecily asked for it. On the very day
of the wedding the truth was to be revealed. In ignorance, perhaps in
her own despite, she had been made in reality what she had conceived
herself to be; to-day she was Lady Tristram in law. Now she was to be
told. Neeld saw the choice that would be laid before her, and, at the
same time, the use that had been made of his silence. He fell into a
sore puzzle. Yes, Harry could play a deep game when he chose.

"It's quite impossible to justify either the use he's made of me or the
way he's treated her," he concluded sadly. "I shall speak very seriously
to him about it." But he knew that the serious speaking, however
comforting it might be to himself as a protest, would fall very lightly
on Harry Tristram's ears; their listening would be for the verdict of
another voice.

"Do you think Disney will repeat his offer--will give him a chance of
reconsidering now?" asked Iver, who had heard of that affair from Lord
Southend.

"I'm sure he wouldn't accept anything," Neeld answered with remarkable
promptitude and conviction. It was a luxury to find an opportunity of
speaking the truth.

"The least he could do would be to leave that to her."

"She'd say just the same," Neeld assured him. "I'm convinced there'll be
no question of anything of the kind."

"Then it's very awkward," Iver grumbled crossly.

In all his varied experience of the Imp--which included, it may be
remembered, a good deal of plain-speaking and one embrace--Neeld had
never found her in such a state as governed her this evening. Mason gave
him tea while she walked restlessly about; he gathered that Mason was
dying to talk but had been sore wounded in an encounter with Mina
already, and was now perforce holding his tongue.

"They'll be here by seven, and you and I are to dine with them," she
told him. "Quite informally."

"Dear me, I--I don't think I want----" he began.

"Hush!" she interrupted. "Are you going to be all day with those things,
Mason?"

"I hope I haven't been slower than usual, ma'am," said Mason very
stiffly.

At last he went. In an instant Mina darted across to Neeld, and caught
h