"No. Simply absorbed with my luncheon. I find that eating is really important in England. It takes one's mind off the climate." "I'm leaving to-morrow," continued Miss Fitzgerald, for the purpose of breaking an awkward silence, which had already lasted several minutes. "I think it's the wisest thing you can do," replied the Dowager. Such provocation could not pass unnoticed. "Why?" queried her companion, outwardly calm, but with a dangerous gleam in her eye. "Because if you were not leaving the house at once, I should feel it my duty to take Lady Isabelle away--with young girls one must be careful." "Explain yourself, Lady Port Arthur." "I do not think it necessary, really; do you? Of course I can quite understand that it's most advisable, perhaps necessary, for you to marry; but common decency would prevent you from thrusting your attentions on a man who----" "If you're alluding to Mr. Stanley, your Ladyship, I don't mind telling you, if it'll make you feel easier, that I've about decided to refuse him." "What!" "He proposed to me some days ago, but, as you say, one has to be careful." "Impossible!" "As for marrying," continued her adversary, relentlessly, determined, since Lady Isabelle's marriage must be known, to have the satisfaction of imparting the news herself--"as for marrying--you're hardly qualified to speak on that subject, if you will pardon my saying so, as you don't even know the name of your daughter's husband." The Dowager gasped. She had no words to express her feelings. "You needn't get so agitated, for I shall probably leave you Mr. Stanley to fall back upon, if this present marriage proves _illegal_. Lady Isabelle would be provided with _some_ husband in any case." The Dowager gripped the handle of her sunshade until it seemed as if it must snap, and turned purple in the face. "Don't tell me I lie," pursued her tormentor, "it's not good form, and besides, if you want confirmation, look in Mr. Lambert's register at the chapel next door, where your daughter was married two days ago." "Insolence!!!" gasped the Dowager. "I ought to know," continued Miss Fitzgerald, calmly, "as I was one of the witnesses--you----" but she never finished her sentence, for the Dowager had hoisted her sunshade and got under way for the church door. CHAPTER XXXII THE TOP OF THE TOWER After his disquieting interview with Miss Fitzgerald, Stanley felt the imperative need of an entire change of subject to steady his mind. This want, the secret of the old tower supplied. No time could have been better suited for his investigations. Lunch was well over, the members of the house party were in their various rooms for an hour at least.