t it be?'

Alice seemed to have forgotten the other secret. She searched his face
for a moment, deeply troubled, then asked:

'Willis, I want to know who Clara is?'

He moved his eyes slowly, and regarded her with a puzzled look.

'Clara? What Clara?'

'Somebody you know of. You've got a habit of talking in your sleep
lately. You were calling out "Clara!" last night, and that's the second
time I've heard you.'

He was absent for a few seconds, then laughed and shook his head.

'I don't know anybody called Clara. It's your mistake.'

'I'm quite sure it isn't,' Alice murmured discontentedly.

'Well, then, we'll say it is,' he rejoined in a firmer voice. 'If I
talk in my sleep, perhaps it'll be better for you to pay no attention. I
might find it inconvenient to live with you.'

Alice looked frightened at the threat.

'You've got a great many secrets from me,' she said despondently.

'Of course I have. It is for your good. I was going to tell you one just
now, only you don't seem to care to bear it.'

'Yes, yes, I do!' Alice exclaimed, recollecting. 'Is it something about
Adela?'

He nodded.

'Wouldn't it delight you to go and get her into a terrible row with
Dick?'

'Oh, do tell me! What's she been doing?'

'I can't quite promise you the fun,' he replied, laughing. 'It may miss
fire. What do you think of her meeting Eldon alone in the wood that
Monday afternoon, the day after she found the will, you know?'

'You mean that?'

'I saw them together.'

'But she--you don't mean she--?'

Even Alice, with all her venom against her brother's wife, had a
difficulty in attributing this kind of evil to Adela. In spite of
herself she was incredulous.

'Think what you like,' said Rodman. 'It looks queer, that's all.'

It was an extraordinary instance of malice perpetrated out of sheer
good-humour. Had he not been assured by what he heard in the wood of the
perfectly innocent relations between Adela and Eldon, he would naturally
have made some profitable use of his knowledge before this. As long
as there was a possibility of advantage in keeping on good terms with
Adela, he spoke to no one of that meeting which he had witnessed. Even
now he did not know but that Adela had freely disclosed the affair
to her husband. But his humour was genially mischievous. If he could
gratify Alice and at the same time do the Mutimers an ill turn, why not
amuse himself?

'I'll tell Dick the very first thing in the morning!