laces. It was a relief
to him to feel--if his next questions did nothing else--that they would
disappoint Mrs. Galilee.

"Am I right in supposing that you believe what you have told me?" he
resumed.

"Most assuredly!"

"Is Doctor Benjulia the only person who has spoken to you on the
subject?"

"The only person."

"His information being derived from his friend--the fellow-student whom
you mentioned just now?"

"In other words," Mrs. Gallilee answered viciously, "the father of the
wretched girl who has been foisted on my care."

If Mr. Mool's courage had been in danger of failing him, he would have
found it again now His regard for Carmina, his respect for the memory
of her mother, had been wounded to the quick. Strong on his own legal
ground, he proceeded as if he was examining a witness in a police court.

"I suppose the doctor had some reason for believing what his friend told
him?"

"Ample reason! Vice and poverty generally go together--_this_ man was
poor. He showed Doctor Benjulia money received from his mistress--her
husband's money, it is needless to say."

"Her motive might be innocent, Mrs. Gallilee. Had the man any letters of
hers to show?"

"Letters? From a woman in her position? It's notorious, Mr. Mool, that
Italian models don't know how to read or write."

"May I ask if there are any further proofs?"

"You have had proofs enough."

"With all possible respect, ma'am, I deny that."

Mrs. Gallilee had not been asked to enter into disgusting details. Mrs.
Gallilee had been contradicted by her obedient humble servant of other
days. She thought it high time to bring the examination to an end.

"If you are determined to believe in the woman's innocence," she said,
"without knowing any of the circumstances--"

Mr. Mool went on from bad to worse: he interrupted her now.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Gallilee, I think you have forgotten that one of my
autumn holidays, many years since, was spent in Italy. I was in Rome,
like Doctor Benjulia, after your brother's marriage. His wife was, to my
certain knowledge, received in society. Her reputation was unblemished;
and her husband was devoted to her."

"In plain English," said Mrs. Gallilee, "my brother was a poor weak
creature--and his wife, when you knew her, had not been found out."

"That is just the difficulty I feel," Mr. Mool rejoined. "How is it that
she is only found out now? Years have passed since she died. More years
have passed since this att