She walked a few paces from her companion; but Harcourt Lowther followed her, and caught her gently by the arm. “Will Francis Tredethlyn tell you the truth if you question him?” he asked. “My dear Mrs. Tredethlyn, how could you endure the _esclandre_ of such a scene as _must_ ensue if you go back to that house, and confront your husband in the presence of that woman?” “Why should there be a scene, or any _esclandre_? The lady may be the wife or daughter of some friend of my husband’s. Have I any right to imagine something horrible because I see Frank with a person who is a stranger to me? It was only your manner that frightened me.” “I am very sorry my manner was so foolish. Let us drop the subject. Only--take my advice--don’t go back to that house.” “Why should I not, if my husband is innocent? as I am sure he is.” Mr. Lowther shrugged his shoulders. “Because it is an unpleasant thing to intrude where one is not invited,” he answered. “Whatever questions you wish to ask your husband can be reserved until you are both at home; and in the meantime pray let the matter drop. Believe me, it is not a fit subject for discussion between you and me.” There are lawyers who generally inaugurate a consultation by advising their clients not to go to law. They know it is a very safe display of magnanimity. It is only the old story of standing on the shore to reason with a tempestuous ocean, or interfering with the appetite of a famished wolf in favour of the lamb on which he means to dine. To try to restrain a woman whose jealousy has once been aroused from any investigation of her fancied wrongs, is no less wasted labour; and Harcourt Lowther knew quite enough of human nature to be very sure of this. Mrs. Tredethlyn turned upon him fiercely. He had never seen the woman he loved in a passion until this moment; and though he had so much else to employ his thoughts just now, he could not help pausing for a moment to think now beautiful she looked with that new light in her eyes, that feverish glow so suddenly kindled in the cheeks that had been deadly pale. “I will not let the matter drop,” she cried. “You are keeping some hideous secret hidden from me. I know you are. I could not be mistaken in your tone just now when you saw Francis in that garden. If there were no harm in his being there, why should you express such amazement? Harcourt Lowther, we were friends once, and you affect to be my friend now. If you are what you pretend to be, tell me the meaning of my husband’s conduct?” “You love him very much, Maude, to feel his conduct so deeply.” She was too agitated to notice that her old lover had called her by her Christian name. He had perhaps been scarcely aware of it himself. He loved her better at this moment than he had ever loved her in his life, now that she stood before him a beautiful, angry, passionate creature, appealing to him against the husband for whose sake he had been jilted.