ou what she has done to _me_? Is a woman that will
behave in that way likely to be innocent? Is her husband to be kept in
the dark about her, deceived, cheated? I can't understand you. If you
are too cowardly to do your plain duty--Hugh, how am I talking? You
make me forget myself. But you know that it's impossible to spare your
friend. It wouldn't be just to him. Here's a form; write the telegram
at once.'

'Write it yourself,' he answered, in a low, nerveless voice, moving
away again.

It was quickly done, though Sibyl paused to reflect after the first
word or two. The message ran thus----

'I want to see you and Mrs. Rolfe before going away. Please both come
this evening if possible. If you cannot, reply when.'

Without showing what she had written, she left the room, and despatched
a servant to the post-office.

CHAPTER 12

As a last resource against Cecil Morphew's degeneration, Harvey had
given up his daily work in Westminster Bridge Road. 'I shall go no
more,' he wrote. 'I am quite unable to manage the business alone, and
if you won't attend to it, it must smash. But please to remember that I
took a share on certain conditions.' For a week he had stayed at home.
Morphew did not reply, but the fact that no appeals arrived from the
trusty shopman seemed to prove that this last step had been effectual.
This morning Rolfe was half-minded to go up to town, but decided that
he had better not. Thus the telegram from Oxford and Cambridge Mansions
came into his hands at about twelve o'clock.

Alma, after giving Hughie his morning's lesson, had gone out with him
for an hour. As soon as she returned, Harvey showed her the message.

'Why does he want both of us to go?' he asked uneasily.

Alma merely shook her head, as if the matter interested her very
little, and turned to leave the room again.

'I think I had better go alone,' said Harvey, his eyes on the telegram.

'Just as you like,' answered Alma, and withdrew.

She spent the afternoon much as usual. Rolfe had said at lunch that he
would go to Carnaby's immediately after dinner. Mrs. Langland and one
of her daughters called; they thought Mrs. Rolfe rather absent-minded,
but noticed nothing else. At dinner-time she said carelessly to her
husband----

'I think I had better go with you, as I was asked.'

'No, no; I think not.'

'I had rather, Harvey, if you don't mind. I am quite ready; shall only
have to put my hat on.'

He made no further obj