"Pardon me," said Dino, who had heard more than was quite meant for his
ears. "The word 'lie' should never be uttered in connection with any of
Brian's words or actions. He is the soul of honour."

Percival sneered bitterly. "As is shown----" he began, and then stopped
short. But Dino understood.

"As is shown," he said, steadily, "by the fact that when he learnt,
almost in the same moment, that Miss Murray was the person who had
inherited his property, and that she was promised in marriage to
yourself, he left the house in which she lived, and resolved to see her
face no more. Was there no sense of honour shown in this? For he loved
her as his own soul."

"Upon my word," explained Percival, with unconcealed annoyance, "you
seem to know a great deal about Miss Murray's affairs and mine,
Mr.--Mr.--Vasari. I am flattered by the interest they excite; but I
don't see exactly what good is to come of it. I knew of Mr. Stretton's
proposal long ago: a very insolent one, I considered it."

"Let me ask you a plain question, Mr. Heron. You love Miss Murray, do
you not?"

"If I do," said Heron, haughtily, "it is not a question that I am
disposed to answer at present."

"You love Miss Murray," said Dino, as if the question had been answered
in the affirmative, "and there is nothing on earth so dear to me as my
friend Brian Luttrell. It may seem strange to you that it should be so;
but it is true. I have no wish to take his place in Scotland----"

"Then what are you doing in Mr. Brett's office?" asked Percival,
bluntly.

For the first time Dino showed some embarrassment.

"I have been to blame," he said, hanging his head. "I was forced into
this position--by others; and I had not the strength to free myself. But
I will not wrong Brian any longer."

"If your story is proved, it will not be wronging Brian or anybody else
to claim your rights. Take the Luttrell property, by all means, if it
belongs to you. We shall do very well without it."

"Yes," said Dino, almost in a whisper, "you will do very well without
it, if you are sure that she loves you."

Percival sat erect in his chair and looked Dino in the face with an
expression which, for the first time, was devoid of scorn or anger. It
was almost one of dread; it was certainly the look of one who prepares
himself to receive a shock.

"What have you to tell me?" he said, in an unusually quiet voice. "Is
she deceiving me? Is she corresponding with him? Have they made y