OLINE.

[_To_ DUNNING, _repeating her gesture._] Stop! [_To_ LADY FILSON _and_
SIR RANDLE, _in a strained voice._] Mother--Dad----

[_Everybody looks at her, surprised at her manner._

LADY FILSON.

Otto dear----?

OTTOLINE.

I--I can't allow you all to be mystified any longer. I--I can clear
this matter up.

SIR RANDLE.

You, my darling?

OTTOLINE.

[_Steadying herself by resting her finger-tips upon the table._]
The--the explanation is that Mr. Westrip--[_with a wan smile_] poor
boy--he would jump into the sea for me if I bade him--the explanation
is that Mr. Westrip has been--helping me----

LADY FILSON.

_Helping_ you----?

SIR RANDLE.

Helping _you_----?

OTTOLINE.

[_Inclining her head._] Helping me. He--he---- [_Raising her eyes
defiantly and confronting them all._] _Ecoutez!_ Robbie Roope has asked
who is the actual tenant of the cellar and room in Carmichael Lane.
[_Breathing deeply._] _I_ am.

LADY FILSON.

[_Advancing a few steps._] _You_ are! N-n-nonsense!

OTTOLINE.

Mr. Westrip took the place for me--my arrangement with Titterton made
it necessary----

LADY FILSON.

With Titterton! Then he--he _has_----?

OTTOLINE.

Yes. The thousands of copies--packed in the cases with the lying
labels--_I_ have bought them--they're mine----

LADY FILSON.

Y-y-yours!

OTTOLINE.

I--I was afraid the book had failed--and I went to Titterton--and
bargained with him----

LADY FILSON.

So--so everything--everything that your brother and Mr.--Mr. Dunning
have surmised----?

OTTOLINE.

Everything, mother--except that I am the culprit, and Mr. Mackworth is
the victim.

LADY FILSON.

Ottoline----!

OTTOLINE.

[_Passing her hand over her brow._] It--it's horrible of me to give
Titterton away--but--what can I do?--[_She turns her back upon them
sharply and, leaning against the table, searches for her
handkerchief._] Oh! Need Mr. Dunning stay----?

[BE