The Directors looked at each other. This was, indeed, a very remarkable story, and one never before brought to the notice of any Board. "Gentlemen," said the Chairman, "you have heard the letter; you now have the case before you. I should like to hear your views." "We are likely to get most of our money back," said one of the Directors, "it seems to me, by holding our tongues. That is the main thing." "If we could get Lord Harry himself," said another, "I should say: Go for him, but not for his wife. I wonder we ever took his life at all. If all stories are true about him he is as bad as they make 'em. He ran away when he was a boy, and went to sea: he was a strolling actor after that: he went out to the States and was reported to have been seen in the West: he has been a ship's steward: he has been on the turf. What has he not been?" "We have got the money," said another; "that is the great thing. We must remember that we should never have found out the thing unless--" "The Company must not compound a felony," said the Chairman. "Certainly not. By no means. At the same time, would any good purpose be served by public scandal in connection with a noble House?" "The noble House," said another Director, who was Radical, "may very well take care of itself. Question is, Would it do any good to anybody if we ran in the wife?" "Who is she?" "You would expect a ruffian like Lord Harry to marry a woman like himself. Not at all. He married a most charming creature named Henley--Iris Henley--father very well known in the City. I heard of it at the time. She would have him---infatuated about him--sad business. Mr. Chairman, I submit that it is quite impossible for us to take proceedings against this unfortunate lady, who is doing her utmost to make restitution." "The Company must not compound a felony," the Chairman repeated. "Even if we do not get back that two thousand pounds," said the Secretary, "the Company will lose nothing. The surrender value must be considered." Then another of the Directors spoke. "We do not know where this lady is to be found. She is probably passing under another name. It is not our business to hunt her down." "And if we found her we should have to prove the case, and her guilty knowledge of the conspiracy," said another. "How would this precious letter be taken as evidence? Why, we do not even know that it is true. We might exhume the body: what would that prove after three months? We might open up the case, and spend a heap of money, and create a great scandal, and be none the better for it afterwards. My advice is, let the thing drop." "Well, but," objected another, "suppose we admit that the man is still living. He may die, and then there would be another claim upon us." "Of that," said the Chairman, "I think there need be no apprehension whatever. You have heard his letter. But, I repeat, we must not compound a felony!"