Adrien's honour.

There was a moment's silence, broken by Shelton, who rose and grasped
his friend's hand.

"Adrien," he said, in a voice charged with emotion, "Adrien, I can bear
this no longer. Give this foul accusation the lie. I know, my dear
fellow, as surely as I know that I did not write it myself, that you had
nothing to do with the accursed signature. But, for Heaven's sake, tell
the others so too."

Adrien returned the friendly clasp with a smile that lit up his whole
face; then looking round, he said quietly:

"I did not write it; I know nothing of it."

Lord Barminster rose from his seat at the sound of his son's voice, and
put his hand on Adrien's shoulder; then, as if half ashamed of his
pardonable emotion, he turned to the inspector.

"You hear, sir, Mr. Leroy knows nothing of the matter."

"That, my lord," returned the inspector respectfully, "would not justify
me in leaving here without him. I fear he must accompany me; my
instructions under the warrant are too strict. Mere denial is, of
course, a common matter, and a usual one--begging your pardon, my
lord"--for the old man had started indignantly.

"I should suggest, my lord," continued the inspector hurriedly, "that an
alibi would be of the most service. I do not say for one moment that Mr.
Leroy did commit the forgery; but, of course, he will be able to prove
where he was on the twenty-second of last month, at three o'clock."

Shelton's face brightened. He wheeled round on his friend.

"Adrien," he exclaimed, "tell us where you were on that day; not to
satisfy me, you know that, but to get this folly over."

Leroy gazed sadly at him, but remained silent; and Shelton grew hot, and
then white with irritation, at this inexplicable silence.

"Think, my dear Adrien," he said in a quick, impatient voice. "Were you
at the club, or your chambers, or Park Lane--where were you? Come, you
can't have forgotten."

He stamped his foot in his impatience; for although he would have
laughed to scorn any assertion of his friend's guilt, it annoyed him
that a shadow should remain on Adrien's name for a single instant, and
especially when a few words from Leroy himself would end the matter.

But Adrien made no indignant protest, such as might have been expected.

"No," he said at length, "I have not forgotten where I spent the day of
the twenty-second----"

"Then, for Heaven's sake, man, speak out," exclaimed Shelton in
excitement.

"I cannot," ans