Charley drew a deep long breath, and for the space of a good minute he stood there supporting himself by, and gazing blankly down at, the table, for a sharp pang had shot through him, and he felt giddy; but the next minute it passed off, as he muttered to himself: "Not yet, not yet. I must have farther proof!" Then, by an effort, he recovered himself, and leading Nelly to the piano, he sat by her while she sang. A few minutes after, he was by Laura's side, talking to her quietly and gently, as he would have talked to any other lady. And she knew the while what had passed in the farther drawing-room--knew as well as if she had listened; for she knew that Nelly had heard her brothers words, and, in spite of Nelly's quickness, Laura had seen her looking at the letters that were in Ella's handwriting. Laura's breast heaved as Charley sat beside her, and again she trembled, and her heart smote her as she saw how deeply that wound had been cut. But though she pitied, she was hopeful; for she said to herself, "The day must come when Max's words will be true, and he will run to me for solace. The day must come! But when?" Volume 2, Chapter XXIV. MR WHITTRICK AGAIN. During the rest of the evening at the Brays' party Charley was lively and chatty. By an effort he seemed to have cast aside the feelings that oppressed him; and as they went back to the Bond-street hotel, Sir Philip felt quite hopeful, as it seemed to him that his son was indeed going to turn over the fresh leaf. The next day Charley was off betimes to Branksome-street, where he was fortunate in getting an immediate interview with the great Mr Whittrick. "You received my letter, posted two days since?" asked Charley. "Same evening, sir," said Mr Whittrick. "You grant, I suppose, that it is as I said--Mr Maximilian Bray had been here before me?" "My dear sir," said Mr Whittrick, with a smile, "when a gentleman pays me certain fees for certain services, he has bought those services--they are his private property, and I have done with them--that is all finished. Do you understand? This is a private-inquiry office, and every client's business is private. What I might divulge upon that pleasant old institution the rack, I can't say--that being enough to make any man speak; but I believe I should do as many another man did." "What was that?" said Charley, smiling.