fact, it is my name, but I have another, and I
ought to have told you."

"Why, as Claire I know you, and as Claire I shall always love you.
What does it matter if your real name be Lambert? You will change
it, love, soon, I trust."

But my poor little jest woke no mirth in her eyes.

"No, it is not Lambert. That is only the name I took when I went on
the stage. Nor am I called Luttrell. It is a sad story; but let me
tell it now, and put an end to all deception. I meant to do so long
ago; but lately I thought I would wait until after you had seen me on
the stage; I thought I would explain all together, not knowing
that _he_--but it has all gone wrong. Jasper, I know you will pity
poor mother, even though she had allowed you to be deceived. She has
been so unhappy. But let me tell it first, and then you will judge.
She calls herself Luttrell to avoid persecution; to avoid a man who
is--"

"A villain, I am sure."

"A villain, yes; but worse. He is her husband; not my father, but a
second husband. My father died when I was quite a little child, and
she married again. Ever since that day she has been miserable.
I remember her face--oh, so well! when she first discovered the real
character of the man. For years she suffered--we were abroad then--
until at last she could bear it no longer, so she fled--fled back to
England, and took me with her. I think, but I am not sure, that her
husband did not dare to follow her to England, because he had done
something against the laws. I only guess this, for I never dare to
ask mother about him. I did so once, and shall never forget the look
of terror that came into her eyes. I only guess he has some strong
reason for avoiding England, for I remember we went abroad hastily,
almost directly after that night when mother first discovered that
she had been deceived. However that may be, we came to England,
mother and I, and changed our name to Luttrell, which was her maiden
name. After this, our life became one perpetual dread of discovery.
We were miserably poor, of course, and I was unable to do anything to
help for many years. Mother was so careful; why, she even called me
by my second name, so desperately anxious was she to hide all traces
from that man. Then suddenly we were discovered--not by him, but by
his mother, whom he set to search for us, and she--for she was not
wholly bad--promised to make my fortune on the single condition that
half my earnings were