"He was quite right in doing so." "But they can't all be right!" "My dear fellow," said Kent-Lauriston, "it is very seldom, in this complex age, that anyone is wholly right or wholly wrong. All these people, except Miss Fitzgerald, know a part of the truth, and have spoken honestly according to their lights. She alone knows it all, and, believe me, she is much too clever to tell a lie on so important a point. If she told you she was not married to Lieutenant Kingsland, you may implicitly believe her." "Do you know that it is the truth?" "Yes, because I telegraphed to the man who has charge of the issue of special licences, and have received a line from him, to the effect that one has been issued in the last few days, for Lieutenant Kingsland and Lady Isabelle McLane." "Then you convict Mr. Lambert of deception?" "Not at all. If he told you he had not married Lady Isabelle to the Lieutenant, he told you what he believed to be the truth." "But is it possible that he could have married them without knowing it?" "It seems that it was possible." "How could he make such a mistake?" "A man who never makes a mistake makes little or nothing in this world." "And Miss Fitzgerald signed in the place of the bride, to divert suspicion?" "It seems impossible to suppose that she would commit herself in that way," said Kent-Lauriston. "But the register proves that she did," reported Stanley. "Ye-es. It rather savours of the paradox. Perhaps we'd better content ourselves with the facts that Lady Isabelle did marry Kingsland, and Miss Fitzgerald did not. How it was accomplished does not immediately concern us, and, as I fear no very creditable means were used, we'd better not try to find out what they were, especially as we've more serious matters to consider." "You mean----" "I mean the charge unconsciously made by Madame Darcy." "I feared you were going to speak of that." "True, it is an unpleasant business; but you must remember that you owe it to Miss Fitzgerald to ask her for a definite answer, or to give her some explanation for declining to do so." "You think there's no escape from it?" "None that a gentleman can take." "What do you advise me to do?" "Find out where you stand in the first place." "How I stand?" "Yes. At least one serious charge has been made against the woman whom you propose to make your wife. If true--for your own sake, for your father's sake, you must surrender her. If false, you are equally bound, by honour and chivalry, to disprove it." "How can I do this?" "The charge to which I refer is based on the direct evidence of certain letters. See them, and judge for yourself." "That is easier said than done." "Here they are," replied Kent-Lauriston, handing him a little packet. "You have seen Madame Darcy?" "Yes." "And she has given you these letters, knowing they would be shown to me?"