But Gladys was very sad, and could not refer to the events of the night before without becoming greatly agitated; but her long rest had given her strength and more of self-control, while she had been greatly comforted upon being told that she need never look upon Everet Mapleson’s face again unless she chose, and that an appeal to the law would soon free her from the hateful tie that bound her to him. She nearly broke down again, however, when Geoffrey went to her, late in the day, and clung to him almost hysterically; but he spoke cheerfully, and tried to comfort her with brighter hopes for the future, although his own heart was terribly burdened by the great sorrow that had fallen so like a thunderbolt upon them both. “Oh! Geoff,” Gladys burst forth at one time during the interview, “must all Brooklyn and New York ring with this dreadful story!” “No, my darling. Uncle August and I have been considering that matter, and we think that no one, save those of us who already know the truth, need learn anything of it. I am surprised that your father and mother were enabled to act so discreetly during all the confusion last night—not even a servant suspects anything wrong as yet,” Geoffrey said, reassuringly. “But will _he_ keep still about it?” Gladys asked, with a shiver of aversion, as her mind reverted to Everet Mapleson. “I think he will be very glad to, dear—at least for the present,” Geoffrey said, confidently, “until he finds out just what steps _we_ intend to take. It would be very mortifying to him to have his villainy discovered, and become a target for everybody to shoot at, because he failed to get possession of the bride he had strained every nerve to win, while we shall do our utmost as soon as I return.” “Return! Where are you going?” “Ah! has not Aunt Alice told you? I am going South immediately, to try to get at the truth regarding my birth.” He then told her something of the revelations of last night, and she was greatly astonished and shocked to learn of his relation to the man who had so injured them both. “Brothers, Geoff? Just to think of it!” she cried, wonderingly. He smiled somewhat bitterly. “I fear if what he says is true, that the house of Mapleson will not own me either as a son or a brother. However, I wish to know the truth, whatever it is, and then just as soon as I return we will try to have that wretched fraud of last night rectified.” “Can it be done without publicity, Geoffrey?” Gladys asked, anxiously. “Yes, I believe it can be arranged so that very few will ever be any wiser for what has happened.” This was one of the things that Mr. Huntress and Geoffrey had talked of the night before, and the events of the next few days confirmed them in the belief that all scandal might be avoided.