y case, Mr. Brett, until he heard the
fact from your own lips. I trust that he is now satisfied on that point,
at any rate."

"Mr. Brett is an old acquaintance of mine. I have no reason to doubt his
sincerity," said Percival, shortly and stiffly.

If Dino had hoped for anything like an apology, he was much mistaken.
Percival's temper was rampant still.

"Then," said Dino, quitting the door, with the key in his hand, "we may
as well proceed to look at those papers of mine, Mr. Brett. There can be
no objection to Mr. Heron's seeing them, I suppose?"

The lawyer made some objections, but ended by producing from a black
box, a bundle of papers, amongst which were the signed and witnessed
confessions of Vincenza Vasari and a woman named Rosa Naldi, who had
helped in the exchange of the children. Mr. Brett would not allow these
papers to go out of his own hands, but he showed them to Percival,
expounded their contents, and made comments upon the evidence, remarking
amongst other things that Vincenza Vasari herself was expected in
England in a week or two, Padre Cristoforo having taken charge of her,
and undertaken to produce her at the fitting time.

"The evidence seems to be very conclusive," said Mr. Brett, with a
pleasant smile. "In fact, Miss Murray has no case at all, and I dare say
her legal adviser will know what advice to give her, Mr. Heron. Is there
any question that you would like to ask?"

"No," said Percival, rising from his chair and glancing at Dino, who had
stood by without speaking, throughout the lawyer's exposition of the
papers. Then, very ungraciously: "I suppose I owe this gentleman in
ecclesiastical attire--I hardly know what to call him--some sort of
apology. I see that I was mistaken in what I said."

"My dear sir, I am sure Mr. Luttrell will make allowance for words
spoken in the heat of the moment. No doubt it was a shock to you," said
Mr. Brett, with ready sympathy, for which Percival hated him in his
heart. His brow contracted, and he might have said something uncivil had
Dino not come forward with a few quiet words, which diverted him from
his purpose.

"If Mr. Heron thinks that he was mistaken," he said, "he will not refuse
now to hear what I wished to say before we left his house. It will be
simple justice to listen to me."

"Very well," answered Percival, frowning and looking down. "I will
listen."

"Could we, for a few moments only, have a private room?" said Dino to
Mr. Brett, w