, before you
came to the house to see Constance."

Dyce fell straight into the trap. He spoke almost gaily.

"Yes; we met at eight o'clock."

"Of course by appointment."

"Yes, by appointment."

"The best will be for you to begin at the beginning, and tell the story
in your own way. I've heard all my niece cared to tell me; now I give
you the chance of telling your own tale. All I ask is the truth. Tell
me the truth, from point to point."

At the pass he had reached, Lashmar asked nothing better. He was
befooled and bedazzled. Every trouble seemed of a sudden to be lifted
from his mind. Gratitude to Constance, who had proved so much better
than her word, romantic devotion to May, who had so bravely declared
her love, filled him with fervours such as he had never known. He saw
himself in a resplendent light; his attitude was noble, his head bent
with manly modesty, and, when he began to speak, there was something in
his voice which he had never yet been able to command, a virile music,
to which he listened with delighted appreciation.

"I obey you, Lady Ogram; I obey you frankly and gladly. I must go back
to the day of Miss Tomalin's return from London. You will remember I
told you that on that day I was in town, and in the afternoon, early, I
called at Mrs. Toplady's."

Omitting the fact of his having told May about the relations between
Miss Bride and himself, he narrated all else with perfect truth. So
pleasant was the sense of veracity, that he dwelt on unimportant
particulars, and lengthened out the story in a way which would have
made it intolerably tedious to any other hearer. Lady Ogram, however,
found it none too long. The smile had died from her face; her lips were
compressed, and from time to time her eyes turned upon the speaker with
a fierce glare; but Lashmar paid no heed to these trifles. He ended at
length with beaming visage, his last sentences having a touch of
emotion which greatly pleased him.

"Ring the bell," said Lady Ogram, pointing to the electric button.

Glad to stand up and move, Dyce did her bidding. Only a few moments
elapsed before Constance Bride and May Tomalin entered the room.

"Constance, come here," said Lady Ogram. "You"--she glared at
May--"stand where I can have a good view of you."

Lashmar had welcomed their entrance with a smile. The voice and manner
of the autocrat slightly perturbed him, but he made allowances for her
brusque way, and continued to smile at May,