Isabel went and sat down, with a scornful toss of her head, and Laura Pocklington and Neaera stood side by side. "I feel as if it were the judgment of Paris," whispered the latter, audibly, and Mrs. Pocklington and Gerald tittered. Stubbs had once been to Paris on business, but he did not see what it had to do with the present occasion, unless indeed it were something about a previous conviction. "It isn't her," he said, after another pause, pointing a stumpy forefinger at Laura Pocklington. There was a little shiver of dismay. George rigidly repressed every indication of satisfaction. Neaera stood calm and smiling, bending a look of amused kindliness on Stubbs; but the palm of the white hand on the mantelpiece grew pink as the white fingers pressed against it. "Would you like to see me a little nearer?" she asked, and, stepping forward to where Stubbs sat, she stood right in front of him. George felt inclined to cry "Brava!" as if he were at the play. Stubbs was puzzled. There was a likeness, but there was so much unlikeness too. It really wasn't fair to dress people up differently. How was a man to know them? "Might I see the photograph again, sir?" he asked George. "Certainly not," exclaimed Gerald, angrily. George ignored him. "I had rather," he said, "you told us what you think without it." George had sent Lord Tottlebury the photograph, and everybody had looked at it and declared it was not the least like Neaera. Stubbs resumed his survey. At last he said, pressing his hand over his eyes, "I can't swear to her, sir." "Very well," said George. "That'll do." But Neaera laughed. "Swear to me, Mr. Stubbs!" said she. "But do you mean you think I'm like this Nelly Games?" "'Game,' not 'Games,' Mrs. Witt," said George, smiling again. "Well, then, 'Game.'" "Yes, miss, you've a look of her." "Of course she has," said Mrs. Pocklington, "or Mr. George would never have made the mistake." Mrs. Pocklington liked George, and wanted to let him down easily. "That's all you can say?" asked Lord Tottlebury. "Yes, sir; I mean, my lord." "It comes to nothing," said Lord Tottlebury, decisively. "Nothing at all," said George. "Thank you, Stubbs. I'll join you and Mr. Jennings in a moment." "Good-bye, Mr. Stubbs," said Neaera. "I'm sure I should have known you if I'd ever seen you before." Stubbs withdrew, believing himself to have received a compliment. "Of course this ends the matter, George," said Lord Tottlebury. "I should hope so," said Gerald. George looked at Neaera; and as he looked the conviction grew stronger on him that she was Nelly Game. "Mr. George Neston is not convinced," said she, mockingly. "It does not much matter whether I am convinced or not," said George. "There is no kind of evidence to prove the identity." Gerald sprang up in indignation. "Do you mean that you won't retract?" "You can state all the facts; I shall say nothing." "You shall apologise, or----"