With head bent low, much as a culprit condoning his infamy, humbled as was his pride, to thus confide his misgivings to a stranger, he began in a low voice: "My Lord, a few moments since I casually heard you drop a remark suggesting a knowledge of my domestic affairs. I speak to you in confidence, and I am sure Your Grace will spare me the humiliation of feeling that confidence is misplaced. Your position gives you at times the advantage of hearing--a--things said of others that is of no moment or concern to you." Rutley's first thought was, "My opportunity to strike at Corway has come," and if Thorpe at that moment could have seen the cunning leer play about the corners of Rutley's mouth and the flash of exultation that sprang into his eyes, he might have hesitated, nay, ceased to have conversed with him further on such a grave subject. But the fleeting smile went unseen, the exultant flash as quickly disappeared, and in its place a very serious look came over Rutley's face, as in a low voice he replied, slowly but very distinctly. "Really, Thorpe, I am at a loss to understand your motives in questioning me on matters relative to your domestic affairs, and though I may possess information in which I am not particularly interested, still to asperse the character of any person on mere rumor is not compatible with the dignity or honor of my house; however, if you will be explicit on the subject of your singular request, I shall, through sympathy, communicate all I have heard to relieve or confirm your mind of a--I fancy--a terrible suspicion." For a few moments Thorpe could not control his agitation. Overpowered by a sense of shame, his imagination at once conjured up dreadful thoughts. "Sympathy! a--a--to relieve or confirm a terrible suspicion! My God! what does he mean?" And he placed his left hand tightly over his breast as if something hurt him there, while a cold sweat stood out on his brow. Then with a forced calmness, said: "A--a--have you heard any disparaging remarks about--a--Mr. Corway?" "Well, Thorpe, you know 'tis not honorable to repeat the 'chic' scandals one hears, though to satisfy you I will say that if you will look at the little finger of Corway's left hand, you will see a gold ring with a single diamond set in a double heart, which he at times--a--carelessly displays." "A ring with a single diamond! What of it?" impatiently questioned Thorpe. "Oh!" replied Rutley, with an imperturbable stare, "it was a love token from Mrs. John Thorpe." "You lie!" exclaimed Thorpe, the nails of his fingers imprinting deeply in the flesh of his tightly clenched fists, with the fierceness of the passion that had flamed within him. "I do not lie!" Rutley calmly and slowly replied, as he looked steadily into Thorpe's eyes. "You confound my wife with Hazel," hoarsely accused Thorpe.