im previously. The Princess looked at him
perplexed. Cecil felt instinctively that the event which he had most
dreaded was about to happen.

"And you came up here purposely to relieve our minds, Mr. Andrew," the
Princess said. "Really it is most kind of you. I wish that there were
some way--"

She hesitated, a slight note of question in her tone, expressed also by
her upraised eyebrows.

"I had a further reason for coming," Andrew said slowly. "I am very
sorry indeed to seem inhospitable or discourteous, but there is a
certain matter which must be cleared up, and at once. I refer to the
disappearance of Lord Ronald."

There was an instant's dead silence. Then Forrest, with white face,
leaned across the table.

"Who the devil are you?" he asked.

"I am Andrew de la Borne," Andrew answered, "the owner of these poor
estates, which I am very well content to leave for the greater part of
the time in my brother's care, only that he is young, and is liable to
make mistakes. He has made one, sir, I fear, in offering you the
hospitality of the Red Hall."

Forrest rose slowly to his feet. The Princess held out her hand as
though to beg him not to speak. She turned towards Andrew.

"I do not understand, sir," she said, "why you have chosen to
masquerade under another name, and why you come now to insult your
brother's guests in such a manner. Is what he says true, Cecil?" she
added, turning towards him. "Is this man your brother?"

"Yes!" Cecil answered sullenly. "He tells the truth. It is just like
him to make such a thundering idiot of himself."

"I beg your pardon," Andrew answered. "It is not I, Cecil, who desire
to come here and say these things to any guest of yours. It is you who
are sheltering under this roof one man at least to whom you should
never have offered your hospitality. The Duke of Westerham, who has
been my guest for the last few days, told me all that one needs to know
about you, sir, and your career."

Forrest asked no more questions. He turned to Cecil.

"Mr. De la Borne," he said, "I have understood that you were my host,
and I appeal to you. Is this person indeed your elder brother?"

"Yes!" Cecil answered.

"You know what this means," Forrest continued, speaking to Cecil. "I
cannot remain in this house any longer. I could only accept hospitality
from those who have at least learned to comport themselves as
gentlemen."

Andrew smiled.

"I will not grudge you, sir," he said, "any reaso