"Certainly, though I should not have imagined you would care to sit down in my husband's house." "If I had not known Mrs. Mortomley to be an exceptional woman, I should not have entered her husband's house at all." "Mrs. Mortomley is so exceptional a woman that she desires no compliments from Mr. Werner," was the reply. He smiled again and said, "And I in good faith am in no mood to pay compliments to any one--not even to you, whom I want to do me a favour." "Recalling the past, I cannot help remarking that diffidence does not appear to be one of your strongest characteristics." "Recalling the past, you will do me this kindness for the sake of my wife." Dolly did not answer. She wanted to understand what this favour might be before she committed herself. "I cannot sit," he said, "unless you are seated also, and I am tired mentally and bodily. I assure you when I have told you all I have come to tell, you will not regret having extended to me courtesy as well as attention." He placed a chair for her, and then took one himself. "I have come to speak to you about a very serious matter--" he began. "If it is anything concerning Archie do not go on," she interrupted entreatingly. "I have been so happy this morning, and I cannot bear to hear ill news now--I cannot!" she repeated passionately. "Strange as it may appear to you," he said calmly, "there are other persons in England than Mr. and Mrs. Mortomley. It is a singular fact, but true nevertheless, that they are only two souls out of a population of thirty millions. I am bringing no bad news to you about your husband or his affairs; my news is bad for Leonora." "But she is not ill," said Dolly quickly, "for I had a letter from her this morning." "No; she is quite well, and the children are well, and I am well. There is an exhaustive budget of the state of the family health. But still what I have to say does effect Leonora. You remember your friend, Kleinwort, Mrs. Mortomley?" "I once saw a detestable little German called Kleinwort," she said. "And you remember his--so dear--Forde?" "I remember him also." "Well, a week ago that so dear Forde found that his devoted friend, under a pretence of ill-health and paying a visit to Hastings, had taken French leave of this country and got ten days' start of any one who might feel inclined to follow. He was not able to secure much booty in his retreat; but I fancy, all told, he has taken seven or eight thousand pounds with him, and he has let the General Chemical Company in for an amount which seems simply fabulous. "So far Kleinwort, now for myself. A few years ago no man in London need have desired to be in a better position than that I occupied. I was healthy, wealthy, and, as I thought, wise; I was doing a safe trade, I had a good connection; I was as honest as City people have any right to be, and--But why do I talk of this? I am not reciting my own biography.