"You've forgotten me. You're right," he went on agitatedly. "I deserve to be forgotten, though if you knew of the dastardly plot to crush me I believe even _you_ would forgive me." "Even _I_? Am I, then, so hard-hearted?" "No, I don't believe you are, but everything looked so black against me I could scarce hope that you would listen to what I have to say. And there's so great a difference between our fortunes. Mine's blighted. Yours--I heard you sing to-night. 'Twas ravishing. You're destined to be famous. Mr. Gay confided to me his hopes about you. Did he say how good he was to visit me in Newgate--that hell upon earth?" "Yes, Mr. Gay is the best man living. I owe everything to him." "I know--I know. He went over your story. You're wonderful. But I always thought that, though I knew so little about you." He paused. His glistening eyes scanned her face eagerly. He would have given worlds to know what was in her mind and heart. But she gave him no chance. She remained impassive. "You've been very unfortunate, Mr. Vane. I'm truly sorry for you." "That's something," said he gratefully. "It consoles me for what I've gone through. The lies told by Rofflash and Jarvis, who I thought was my friend, nearly sent me to Tyburn." "And Mistress Salisbury?" Lavinia's manner was as cold as ice. It was only by a great effort that she forced her lips to utter Sally's name. She knew it meant a deadly thrust for Vane, but a woman has no mercy where another woman is concerned. Vane hung his head. "I don't know what to think about her," said he huskily. "I can hardly believe she was in the conspiracy to consign me to the gallows." "Why not? Is she in love with you?" "How can I tell? I--I--well, I suppose I may say in justice to her that she did her best to nurse me through the fever that followed my wound." "Then she does love you," cried Lavinia roused out of her coldness. "I can't imagine the creature doing a good action without a strong motive." "I've heard say she's generous and is always ready to put her hand in her pocket to help anybody in distress." "Very likely. It's easy to be generous with money that comes so lightly. Every guinea she spends is tainted," exclaimed Lavinia passionately. "And so you accepted her help?" "Not in money. She found me grievously ill at Dr. Mountchance's on London Bridge. Mountchance is a quack and a charlatan, and she had me carried to her own lodgings else I must have died. I'd scarce recovered from my wound when I was arrested at Rofflash's instigation and thrown into Newgate." "I suppose she did right and you, too, Mr. Vane," rejoined Lavinia with a toss of her head. "It is naught to do with me. Let us talk of other matters. Mr. Gay tells me your father's a clergyman."