s in his company, Romayne asked me if I had
seen Winterfield since his visit to Ten Acres Lodge.

I said I had seen him, and waited, anticipating the next question.
Romayne fulfilled my expectations. He inquired if Winterfield had left
London.

There are certain cases (as I am told by medical authorities) in which
the dangerous system of bleeding a patient still has its advantages.
There are other cases in which the dangerous system of telling the truth
becomes equally judicious. I said to Romayne, "If I answer you honestly,
will you consider it as strictly confidential? Mr. Winterfield, I regret
to say, has no intention of improving his acquaintance with you. He
asked me to conceal from you that he is still in London."

Romayne's face plainly betrayed that he was annoyed and irritated.
"Nothing that you say to me, Father Benwell, shall pass the walls
of this room," he replied. "Did Winterfield give any reason for not
continuing his acquaintance with me?"

I told the truth once more, with courteous expressions of regret.
"Mr. Winterfield spoke of an ungracious reception on the part of Mrs.
Romayne."

He started to his feet, and walked irritably up and down the room. "It
is beyond endurance!" he said to himself.

The truth had served its purpose by this time. I affected not to have
heard him. "Did you speak to me?" I asked.

He used a milder form of expression. "It is most unfortunate," he said.
"I must immediately send back the valuable book which Mr. Winterfield
has lent to me. And that is not the worst of it. There are other volumes
in his library which I have the greatest interest in consulting--and it
is impossible for me to borrow them now. At this time, too, when I have
lost Penrose, I had hoped to find in Winterfield another friend who
sympathized with my pursuits. There is something so cheering and
attractive in his manner--and he has just the boldness and novelty of
view in his opinions that appeal to a man like me. It was a pleasant
future to look forward to; and it must be sacrificed--and to what? To a
woman's caprice."

From our point of view this was a frame of mind to be encouraged. I
tried the experiment of modestly taking the blame on myself. I
suggested that I might be (quite innocently) answerable for Romayne's
disappointment.

He looked at me thoroughly puzzled. I repeated what I had said to
Winterfield. "Did you mention to Mrs. Romayne that I was the means of
introducing you--?"

He was