iew.
It was impossible that Allan could respect the confidence which Mrs.
Milroy had treacherously affected to place in him. But he had an
honest man's regard for his own pledged word--the regard which looks
straightforward at the fact, and which never glances sidelong at the
circumstances--and the utmost persistency of Pedgift Senior failed to
move him a hairbreadth from the position which he had taken up. "No" is
the strongest word in the English language, in the mouth of any man who
has the courage to repeat it often enough, and Allan had the courage to
repeat it often enough on this occasion.

"Very good, sir," said the lawyer, accepting his defeat without the
slightest loss of temper. "The choice rests with you, and you have
chosen. We will go the long way. It starts (allow me to inform you) from
my office; and it leads (as I strongly suspect) through a very miry road
to--Miss Gwilt."

Allan looked at his legal adviser in speechless astonishment.

"If you won't expose the person who is responsible in the first
instance, sir, for the inquiries to which you unfortunately lent
yourself," proceeded Mr. Pedgift the elder, "the only other alternative,
in your present position, is to justify the inquiries themselves."

"And how is that to be done?" inquired Allan.

"By proving to the whole neighborhood, Mr. Armadale, what I firmly
believe to be the truth--that the pet object of the public protection is
an adventuress of the worst class; an undeniably worthless and dangerous
woman. In plainer English still, sir, by employing time enough and money
enough to discover the truth about Miss Gwilt."

Before Allan could say a word in answer, there was an interruption at
the door. After the usual preliminary knock, one of the servants came
in.

"I told you I was not to be interrupted," said Allan, irritably. "Good
heavens! am I never to have done with them? Another letter!"

"Yes, sir," said the man, holding it out. "And," he added, speaking
words of evil omen in his master's ears, "the person waits for an
answer."

Allan looked at the address of the letter with a natural expectation of
encountering the handwriting of the major's wife. The anticipation was
not realized. His correspondent was plainly a lady, but the lady was not
Mrs. Milroy.

"Who can it be?" he said, looking mechanically at Pedgift Senior as he
opened the envelope.

Pedgift Senior gently tapped his snuff-box, and said, without a moment's
hesitatio