tter."

"You believe?" Mr. Troy repeated. "Can't you speak more positively than
that?"

"_I_ can speak positively," said Lady Lydiard, with her eyes on the
lawyer. "Moody did mention the inclosure in the letter--in Isabel
Miller's hearing as well as in mine." She paused, steadily controlling
herself. "And what of that, Mr. Troy?" she added, very quietly and
firmly.

Mr. Troy answered quietly and firmly, on his side. "I am surprised that
your Ladyship should ask the question," he said.

"I persist in repeating the question," Lady Lydiard rejoined. "I say
that Isabel Miller knew of the inclosure in my letter--and I ask, What
of that?"

"And I answer," retorted the impenetrable lawyer, "that the suspicion of
theft rests on your Ladyship's adopted daughter, and on nobody else."

"It's false!" cried Robert, with a burst of honest indignation. "I wish
to God I had never said a word to you about the loss of the bank-note!
Oh, my Lady! my Lady! don't let him distress you! What does _he_ know
about it?"

"Hush!" said Lady Lydiard. "Control yourself, and hear what he has to
say." She rested her hand on Moody's shoulder, partly to encourage
him, partly to support herself; and, fixing her eyes again on Mr. Troy,
repeated his last words, "'Suspicion rests on my adopted daughter, and
on nobody else.' Why on nobody else?"

"Is your Ladyship prepared to suspect the Rector of St. Anne's of
embezzlement, or your own relatives and equals of theft?" Mr. Troy
asked. "Does a shadow of doubt rest on the servants? Not if Mr. Moody's
evidence is to be believed. Who, to our own certain knowledge, had
access to the letter while it was unsealed? Who was alone in the room
with it? And who knew of the inclosure in it? I leave the answer to your
Ladyship."

"Isabel Miller is as incapable of an act of theft as I am. There is my
answer, Mr. Troy."

The lawyer bowed resignedly, and advanced to the door.

"Am I to take your Ladyship's generous assertion as finally disposing of
the question of the lost bank-note?" he inquired.

Lady Lydiard met the challenge without shrinking from it.

"No!" she said. "The loss of the bank-note is known out of my house.
Other persons may suspect this innocent girl as you suspect her. It is
due to Isabel's reputation--her unstained reputation, Mr. Troy!--that
she should know what has happened, and should have an opportunity of
defending herself. She is in the next room, Moody. Bring her here."

Robert's