'Her excuse is that he brought shame and dishonour on her and on his children, and that she would have nothing more to do with him. He had committed a forgery, and had been condemned to penal servitude for seven years.' Then the Doctor said 'Good heavens!' again. At certain moments of existence it is not possible to be original--when the roof is falling on one's head, for example, or a deadly avalanche is threatening. But Michael needed no answer; he only wished to finish his story as quickly as possible. 'You know Audrey's friend, Thomas O'Brien?' 'To be sure I do. He is a retired corn-chandler. I went to his shop once, in Peterborough.' 'And you have probably heard of his brother Mat?' Then Dr. Ross gazed at him with a face of despair. His misfortunes were accumulating; he had a sense of nightmare and oppression. Surely this hideous thing could not be true! no such disgrace could threaten him and his! If an earthquake had opened in the Woodcote grounds, he could not have looked more horrified. 'Do you mean to tell me, Mike, that this Mat O'Brien is Cyril's father?' Then Michael gave him a detailed and carefully-worded account of his interview with Mrs. Blake. 'Then it is true--quite true?' in a hopeless tone. 'There cannot be a doubt of it; I had it from her own lips. To-morrow I must see O'Brien himself, and hear his side. I cannot help saying that I am sorry for the woman, in spite of her falseness; she is utterly crushed with her misery.' But it may be doubted if Dr. Ross heard this: he was occupied with his own reflections. 'This will break Audrey's heart; she is devoted to the fellow.' 'Oh, I hope not; she has more strength than other girls.' 'Of course I cannot allow this affair to go on: I must see Blake, and tell him so at once.' 'There is no hurry, is there? I think you should let me speak to O'Brien first.' 'Well, if you wish it; but I confess I do not see the necessity.' 'And I hope you will be gentle with Blake: remember that not a vestige of blame attaches to him; it is simply his misfortune that he is the son of such parents. I expect he will be utterly broken-hearted.' Then Dr. Ross gave vent to an impatient groan. No man had a softer heart than he, and he had liked Cyril from the first. 'I must think of my child, Mike,' he said at last. 'Yes, you must think of her; but you must be merciful to him, too. Think what he will suffer when he knows this; and he is as innocent as a babe! I suppose'--and then he hesitated, and looked at his cousin--'that there will be no way of hushing up things, and letting the engagement go on?' Then the Doctor nearly sprang out of his chair. 'Are you out of your senses, Michael, to put such a question to me? Is it likely that any man in my position would allow his family to be allied to a convicted criminal? Would any amount of hushing up render such an alliance tolerable?' 'Well, I suppose not.'