Mr. Manley thought quickly.

"Very good, sir," said James Hutchings, and he hurried down the stairs.

Mr. Manley did not see Olivia at once, for she was still in the pavilion
in the East wood. But as soon as she returned, he sent a message by
Holloway to her, that he wished to see her on important business.
Holloway brought word that she would see him at once.

He found her in her sitting-room, gazing out of the window, and she
turned quickly at his entrance with inquiring eyes.

"It's a rather unpleasant business, and the sooner it's dealt with the
better," said Mr. Manley in a brisk, businesslike voice. "One of the
under-gamekeepers has been spreading a scandalous and lying story about
you and Colonel Grey, something about his kissing you in the East wood on
the afternoon of Lord Loudwater's death, and he has gone on to suggest,
or assert--I don't know which--that you and Colonel Grey had a hand in
Lord Loudwater's death."

The blow she had been expecting had fallen, and Olivia paled and her
mouth went dry.

"Which of the under-gamekeepers is it?" she said calmly but with
difficulty, for her tongue kept sticking to the roof of her mouth.

"A ferret-faced, rascally-looking fellow, called William Roper," said Mr.
Manley with some heat. Then, to save her the effort of speaking, he went
on: "Of course you'd like him discharged at once. The sooner these people
understand that their excitement about Lord Loudwater's death is not
going to be held an excuse for telling lying stories the better. You will
not be troubled by any more of them."

Olivia looked at him with steady eyes. She had recovered herself and was
thinking hard. Mr. Manley's certainty about the right method of dealing
with the matter was catching. It was better to show a bold front and at
once. There was no time to consult Antony Grey.

"Yes. You're quite right, Mr. Manley. Gentle measures are of no use with
this kind of scandal-monger. William Roper must be discharged at once,"
she said quietly.

"Perhaps you would like me to deal with him? It's rather a business for a
man," Mr. Manley suggested.

"Yes, if you would," she said in a grateful tone.

"I will, as soon as I can get hold of him," said Mr. Manley
cheerfully. "He'll make no more mischief about here," He went out of
the room briskly.

His confidence was heartening. When the door closed behind him Olivia
sobbed twice in the reaction from the shock of his announcement. Then
she recover