"It isn't true," cried Tom. "Woman, you ought to be turned out of the house." "Oh, it's true, though," said Mrs Downes. "Silence, you silly old meat murdress," raged Tom. "Meat what?" cried the cook. "There are times, my lord, when one must speak. I've seen a deal in my time, and there's no doubt about it. We're all very sorry for you, but we all knows that my young lady's been drove to go away with that dark young man." "It is not true," said a sharp voice; and Justine stepped forward to the table, with her dark eyes flashing, her white teeth set, so that she cut the words as they came through, and in her excitement and championship of her young mistress becoming exceedingly French. "I say it is not true. You _canaille_ you, vis your silly talk about ze organiste. It is all a lie--a great lie to say such vicked, cruel thing of my dear young lady. Ah, bah! that for you all," she cried, snapping her fingers, "you big silly fool, all the whole. What, my young mistress go to degrade herself vis one evasion, _comme ca_! She could it not do. Sare, I am angry--it make me _folle_ to hear you talk. I say it is not true." "Damme, you're a trump, Justine," cried Tom, excitedly, as he caught her hand and wrung it. "You are right. She would not degrade herself like that." "They are so _stupide_." "Yes," cried Tom; "and mind this--any one who dares to put about such a disgraceful scandal--hallo! who's this?" There was a loud ring just then, and the butler looked in a scared way at Tom. "Well, go and open it," he said. The next minute there were voices and steps heard in the hall, and directly after Sir Grantley Wilters came in, followed by a policeman, and a ragged, dirty looking little man, whose toes peeped out in rows from his boots, and who held in his hand a very battered brimless hat, which he kept rubbing when he was not engaged in pulling his forelock to first one servant and then another. "Oh, here you are," said Tom, sharply, as the baronet advanced. "She's gone off with Melton, hasn't she?" "N-no," said the bridegroom elect, dejectedly. "I believe it's as they say." "Then you're a bigger fool than I took you for," said Tom, sharply. "Now then, what do you know about it?" he cried to the policeman. "But stop a moment. Here, the whole pack of you, clear out. And mind this-- Mademoiselle Justine is right. Thank you, Justine. Go to her ladyship now. I shan't forget this." The Frenchwoman bowed and smiled, and drew her skirts aside as she swept out of the room, while the rest of the servants shuffled out in an awkward fashion, as if every one was eager not to be the last. "Now then," cried Tom to the policeman, as the baronet went to the chimney-piece to rest his head upon his hand, "why are you come?" "This gentleman, sir," said the constable, nodding his head at Sir Grantley, "asked me to take up the case. Been investigating, and I've got some evidence." "What is it?" cried Tom.