sation to look toward the conservatory, and to notice the
appearance at that moment of a distant gentleman among the plants and
flowers, who had made his way in from the garden outside. Advancing
noiselessly on the soft Indian matting, the gentleman ere long revealed
himself under the form and features of Horace Holmcroft. Before entering
the dining-room he paused, fixing his eyes inquisitively on the back
of Lady Janet's visitor--the back being all that he could see in the
position he then occupied. After a pause of an instant the visitor
spoke, and further uncertainty was at once at an end. Horace,
nevertheless, made no movement to enter the room. He had his own jealous
distrust of what Julian might be tempted to say at a private interview
with his aunt; and he waited a little longer on the chance that his
doubts might be verified.

"Neither you nor Miss Roseberry need any protection from the poor
deluded creature," Julian went on. "I have gained great influence over
her--and I have satisfied her that it is useless to present herself here
again."

"I beg your pardon," interposed Horace, speaking from the conservatory
door. "You have done nothing of the sort."

(He had heard enough to satisfy him that the talk was not taking the
direction which his Suspicions had anticipated. And, as an additional
incentive to show himself, a happy chance had now offered him the
opportunity of putting Julian in the wrong.)

"Good heavens, Horace!" exclaimed Lady Janet. "Where did you come from?
And what do you mean?"

"I heard at the lodge that your ladyship and Grace had returned last
night. And I came in at once without troubling the servants, by the
shortest way." He turned to Julian next. "The woman you were speaking of
just now," he proceeded, "has been here again already--in Lady Janet's
absence."

Lady Janet immediately looked at her nephew. Julian reassured her by a
gesture.

"Impossible," he said. "There must be some mistake."

"There is no mistake," Horace rejoined. "I am repeating what I have just
heard from the lodge-keeper himself. He hesitated to mention it to Lady
Janet for fear of alarming her. Only three days since this person had
the audacity to ask him for her ladyship's address at the sea-side. Of
course he refused to give it."

"You hear that, Julian?" said Lady Janet.

No signs of anger or mortification escaped Julian. The expression in his
face at that moment was an expression of sincere distress.