trick broke the silence. He addressed himself to his
sister-in-law.

"Lady Lundie, are all the persons present whom you expected to see here
to-day?"

The gathered venom in Lady Lundie seized the opportunity of planting its
first sting.

"All whom I expected are here," she answered. "And more than I
expected," she added, with a look at Anne.

The look was not returned--was not even seen. From the moment when she
had taken her place by Sir Patrick, Anne's eyes had rested on
Blanche. They never moved--they never for an instant lost their tender
sadness--when the woman who hated her spoke. All that was beautiful
and true in that noble nature seemed to find its one sufficient
encouragement in Blanche. As she looked once more at the sister of the
unforgotten days of old, its native beauty of expression shone out again
in her worn and weary face. Every man in the room (but Geoffrey) looked
at her; and every man (but Geoffrey) felt for her.

Sir Patrick addressed a second question to his sister-in-law.

"Is there any one here to represent the interests of Mr. Geoffrey
Delamayn?" he asked.

Lady Lundie referred Sir Patrick to Geoffrey himself. Without looking
up, Geoffrey motioned with his big brown hand to Mr. Moy, sitting by his
side.

Mr. Moy (holding the legal rank in Scotland which corresponds to the
rank held by solicitors in England) rose and bowed to Sir Patrick, with
the courtesy due to a man eminent in his time at the Scottish Bar.

"I represent Mr. Delamayn," he said. "I congratulate myself, Sir
Patrick, on having your ability and experience to appeal to in the
conduct of the pending inquiry."

Sir Patrick returned the compliment as well as the bow.

"It is I who should learn from you," he answered. "_I_ have had time,
Mr. Moy, to forget what I once knew."

Lady Lundie looked from one to the other with unconcealed impatience as
these formal courtesies were exchanged between the lawyers. "Allow me to
remind you, gentlemen, of the suspense that we are suffering at this
end of the room," she said. "And permit me to ask when you propose to
begin?"

Sir Patrick looked invitingly at Mr. Moy. Mr. Moy looked invitingly at
Sir Patrick. More formal courtesies! a polite contest this time as to
which of the two learned gentlemen should permit the other to speak
first! Mr. Moy's modesty proving to be quite immovable, Sir Patrick
ended it by opening the proceedings.

"I am here," he said, "to act on behalf of my