ad been already constrained to do much too much.

"It must be followed out to the end," said the Dean. "What! Here is a
woman who professed for years to be a man's wife, who bore his name,
who was believed by everybody to have been his wife----"

"I did not say that, Mr. Dean," interrupted the lawyer.

"Who lived on the man's revenues as his wife, and even bore his title,
and now in such an emergency as this we are to take a cock and bull
story as gospel. Remember, Mr. Battle, what is at stake."

"Very much is at stake, Mr. Dean, and therefore these enquiries have
been made,--at a very great expense. But our own evidence as far as it
goes is all against us. The Luigi family say that there was no
marriage. Her family say that there was, but cannot prove it. The child
may die, you know."

"Why should he die?" asked Lord George.

"I am trying the matter all round, you know. I am told the poor child
is in ill health. One has got to look at probabilities. Of course you
do not abandon a right by not prosecuting it now."

"It would be a cruelty to the boy to let him be brought up as Lord
Popenjoy and afterwards dispossessed," said the Dean.

"You, gentlemen, must decide," said the lawyer. "I only say that I do
not recommend further steps."

"I will do nothing further," said Lord George. "In the first place I
cannot afford it."

"We will manage that between us," said the Dean. "We need not trouble
Mr. Battle with that. Mr. Battle will not fear but that all expenses
will be paid."

"Not in the least," said Mr. Battle, smiling.

"I do not at all believe the story," said the Dean. "It does not sound
like truth. If I spent my last shilling in sifting the matter to the
bottom, I would go on with it. Though I were obliged to leave England
for twelve months myself, I would do it. A man is bound to ascertain
his own rights."

"I will have nothing more to do with it," said Lord George, rising from
his chair. "As much has been done as duty required; perhaps more. Mr.
Battle, good morning. If we could know as soon as possible what this
unfortunate affair has cost, I shall be obliged." He asked his
father-in-law to accompany him, but the Dean said that he would speak a
word or two further to Mr. Battle and remained.

At his club Lord George was much surprised to find a note from his
brother. The note was as follows:--

"Would you mind coming to me here to-morrow or the next day at 3.

"B. Scumberg's Hotel, Tue