that _I_ haven't betrayed
you?" After which, while, as if to let the question lie there in its
folly, Vanderbank said nothing, his friend pursued: "I came, I must tell
you, terribly near it to-day."

"Why must you tell me? Your coming 'near' doesn't concern me, and I take
it you don't suppose I'm watching or sounding you. Mrs. Brook will have
come terribly near," Vanderbank continued as if to make the matter
free; "but she won't have done it either. She'll have been distinctly
tempted--!"

"But she won't have fallen?" Mitchy broke in. "Exactly--there we are.
_I_ was distinctly tempted and I didn't fall. I think your certainty
about Mrs. Brook," he added, "shows you do know her. She's incapable of
anything deliberately nasty."

"Oh of anything nasty in any way," Vanderbank said musingly and kindly.

"Yes; one knows on the whole what she WON'T do." After which, for a
period, Mitchy roamed and reflected. "But in spite of the assurance
given you by Mr. Longdon--or perhaps indeed just because of your having
taken it--I think I ought to mention to you my belief that Nanda does
know of his offer to you. I mean by having guessed it."

"Oh!" said Vanderbank.

"There's in fact more still," his companion pursued--"that I feel I
should like to mention to you."

"Oh!" Vanderbank at first only repeated. But after a moment he said: "My
dear fellow, I'm much obliged."

"The thing I speak of is something I should at any rate have said, and
I should have looked out for some chance if we had not had this one."
Mitchy spoke as if his friend's last words were not of consequence, and
he continued as Vanderbank got up and, moving rather aimlessly, came and
stood with his back to the chimney. "My only hesitation would have been
caused by its entailing our going down into things in a way that, face
to face--given the private nature of the things--I dare say most men
don't particularly enjoy. But if you don't mind--!"

"Oh I don't mind. In fact, as I tell you, I recognise an obligation to
you." Vanderbank, with his shoulders against the high mantel, uttered
this without a direct look; he smoked and smoked, then considered the
tip of his cigar. "You feel convinced she knows?" he threw out.

"Well, it's my impression."

"Ah any impression of yours--of that sort--is sure to be right. If you
think I ought to have it from you I'm really grateful. Is that--a--what
you wanted to say to me?" Vanderbank after a slight pause demanded.

Mit