the news definite--concise? Yes, I
remember it was. I saw the Egyptian newspaper account.'

'I suppose you don't expect any one here to believe in this
cock-and-bull story,' and Springfield laughed uneasily. 'But may one
ask,' he continued, 'why we are regaled with this--this romance?'

'Yes,' replied Jack, 'you may ask; but if I were you I wouldn't. I'd
make myself scarce.'

I saw Springfield's eyes contract, and his whole attitude reminded me
of an angry dog.

'You must tell us all what you mean by that,' he snarled. 'I'm sorry,
Lady Bolivick, that such a scene as this should take place in your
house, but I must defend myself.'

'Against whom? Against what? What charges have been made?' and Jack
Carbis still spoke quietly and naturally.

Again Springfield lost control of himself. 'Oh, I know,' he cried,
'that you and Luscombe have been plotting against me for years. I know
that you would poison the mind of----; that is--why should I deny it?
I love Miss Bolivick. I have loved her from the first hour I saw her.
I have sought her honourably. I would give my immortal soul to win
her, such is my love for her. I know, too, that you, Edgecumbe, or
Carbis, or whatever you may call yourself, are jealous of me, because
you are madly in love with her yourself. By unproved, unprovable
because they are lying, statements, you are trying to poison the mind
of the women I love against me. You are suggesting that I sent home
and brought home false accounts of Maurice St. Mabyn's death for some
sinister purpose. You are hinting at all sorts of horrible things.
Great God, haven't you done enough to thwart me? Oh, yes--I'll admit
it, I expected to be Lord Carbis's heir. I had reason. But for you
I--I----but there, seeing you have robbed me of what I thought was my
legitimate fortune, don't try to rob me of my good name. It's--it's
all I have!'

At that moment I looked at Lorna Bolivick, and I thought I saw
admiration in her eyes; I felt that never was Springfield's hold upon
her stronger than now.

'Tell us plainly what you want to say,' continued Springfield;
'formulate your charges. Tell me of what I am guilty. But by the God
who made us, you shall prove your words. I will not be thrust into a
hopeless hell by lying innuendos and unproved charges.'

For the first time I thought my friend looked confused and frightened.
It might be that the personality of the other had mastered him, and
that although