be no doubt of it by this
time) had something in reserve--and the adversary had not yet shown his
hand. It was more immediately important to lead him into doing this than
to insist on rights and privileges of the purely formal sort. Nothing
could shake the strength of the position which Mr. Moy occupied. The
longer Sir Patrick's irregularities delayed the proceedings, the more
irresistibly the plain facts of the case would assert themselves--with
all the force of contrast--out of the mouths of the witnesses who were
in attendance down stairs. He determined to wait.

"Reserving my right of objection, Sir Patrick," he answered, "I beg you
to go on."

To the surprise of every body, Sir Patrick addressed himself directly
to Blanche--quoting the language in which Lady Lundie had spoken to him,
with perfect composure of tone and manner.

"You know me well enough, my dear," he said, "to be assured that I
am incapable of willingly harrowing your feelings or misleading your
judgment. I have a question to ask you, which you can answer or not,
entirely as you please."

Before he could put the question there was a momentary contest between
Lady Lundie and her legal adviser. Silencing her ladyship (not without
difficulty), the London lawyer interposed. He also begged leave to
reserve the right of objection, so far as _his_ client was concerned.

Sir Patrick assented by a sign, and proceeded to put his question to
Blanche.

"You have heard what Arnold Brinkworth has said, and what Miss Silvester
has said," he resumed. "The husband who loves you, and the sisterly
friend who loves you, have each made a solemn declaration. Recall your
past experience of both of them; remember what they have just said; and
now tell me--do you believe they have spoken falsely?"

Blanche answered on the instant.

"I believe, uncle, they have spoken the truth!"

Both the lawyers registered their objections. Lady Lundie made another
attempt to speak, and was stopped once more--this time by Mr. Moy as
well as by her own adviser. Sir Patrick went on.

"Do you feel any doubt as to the entire propriety of your husband's
conduct and your friend's conduct, now you have seen them and heard
them, face to face?"

Blanche answered again, with the same absence of reserve.

"I ask them to forgive me," she said. "I believe I have done them both a
great wrong."

She looked at her husband first--then at Anne. Arnold attempted to leave
his chair. Sir Patric