‘Oh, don’t talk of that,’ she said wearily. ‘I _did_ throw myself into the water. I thought it would be better for all concerned, myself especially; but some well-meaning people pulled me out again, and when I found that the world believed me to be gone, I thought it just as well not to undeceive it. That is all. Of course I had no idea you would ever come here, or meet me again. As it is, all I wish is that you should leave Usk without betraying my secret to my parents.’ ‘You may depend on me, Miss Llewellyn,’ said Portland. ‘But does Ilfracombe know of your proximity?’ A gleam of pleasure lighted up her features. ‘Yes. I met him yesterday, quite by accident, and he was as surprised to see me as you are. But he was glad--very glad.’ (‘Hullo!’ thought Jack to himself; ‘then this accounts for his sudden determination to go?’) But aloud he said,-- ‘Of course he would be, as we all are. And now, may I ask what you were doing in my room, Miss Llewellyn?’ ‘Yes,’ she answered boldly. ‘I came down here in your absence to see if I could find the packet of letters which you refused to give to Lady Ilfracombe.’ ‘The packet of letters!’ he exclaimed, completely startled out of his usual prudence. How can you know anything about her letters? Who can have told you?’ ‘No one has told me. My bedroom window is up there, and I overheard you talking to her to-night. I did not miss a single word of your conversation.’ ‘By George!’ cried Portland. ‘Well, then, there would be no use in my disguising the matter. She has been a horrid little flirt; but there’s no harm about her now. Understand that plainly.’ ‘Then why did you tempt her to meet you here to-night? You must know what a rupture it would make between her and the earl if it became known?’ ‘I shall take good care it does not get known. But I want to pay her out for her past conduct to me. She is the sort of lady that it is as well to keep the whip hand over.’ ‘When you want to make money out of her husband. Yes; I understand perfectly. So you have not let poor Ilfracombe out of your clutches yet, Mr Portland. How much longer is he to be fleeced?’ ‘You speak boldly, Miss Llewellyn; but, if I remember rightly, you always used to do so.’ ‘In _his_ cause, yes.’ ‘And so you meant to steal my property, eh? and restore it to her ladyship?’ ‘If it were possible. But I begin to be afraid you spoke the truth when you said the letters were not here. They are not in the dispatch-box, at all events. Oh, Mr Portland, if you have them, do give them to me.’ ‘In order that your heartless little rival--the woman who has supplanted you with Ilfracombe--may go scot-free? What do you suppose she will do for you in return? What she has already done--persuaded her husband to leave Usk at once. They go to-morrow!’ Nell drew a long breath.