Webster began walking restlessly up and down the room after he had considered the actress' letter, but he determined to do nothing to aid her. But if she succeeded, what should he do? What would be best and kindest to the poor girl whose heart John Temple had nearly broken? It was a painful question, not easy to answer or to solve, but at all events Kathleen Weir had not yet obtained her divorce. "I will go and see her," he decided; "I will learn exactly what she means to do." Therefore on the following evening he did go to see her, and she was very pleased to welcome him. She started up as he entered the room, and held out her little white hand. "How good of you to come," she said. "I have been wishing so much to see you." "I came to talk over your great news," he answered with a smile. "It is great news, isn't it? Great and good news, for I hope soon it will free me of John Temple." "But--what have you to go upon?" "I will find something to go upon," said the actress, half impatiently. "I have his address, at all events, now, for he is sure to go to Woodlea Hall and look after his property, and I must find someone--or--" and she paused and thought for a moment, and then clapped her hands. "I must find someone," she repeated, "to go to him, or go myself. There, Mr. Webster, what do you think of that? What do you think of my going to visit my lord in his new state? I would be a welcome visitor, wouldn't I, and no doubt could make a splendid bargain with him in his eagerness to get rid of me." "But--it would expose you to a very painful scene." "I am accustomed to scenes, you know," answered Kathleen Weir, with a little laugh. "Do you know I think it is a splendid idea. At all events, we might mutually agree to meet somewhere, and arrange also mutually to get rid of each other." "But what about the Queen's Proctor intervening?" Kathleen Weir gave an airy shrug of her shoulders. "We must manage to be too clever for the Queen's Proctor, and John Temple, I'm certain, will be only too glad to back me up in anything I say. I shall have some handfuls of hair ready, and swear he tore them out of my head." And Kathleen Weir laughed. But Ralph Webster did not laugh. He was thinking of May Churchill, and how her fate might hang on the false words of this woman's tongue, and he looked very grave when he rose to go away. "Going so soon?" cried Kathleen Weir, gaily. She was disappointed at his leaving so early, but she did not wish to show this. "I can wait," she thought, after he had quitted the room; "they say everything comes to those who wait." CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE DEAD MAN'S BELONGINGS.