"You do remember? Well," said Letty, triumphantly, "it is he who is at the bottom of it all. I _knew_ there must be somebody. It appears that he has been getting money out of her for years--that he used to come and spend hours, when she had that little house in Bruton Street, when you were away--I don't believe you ever heard of it--flattering her, and toadying her, paying her compliments on her dress and her appearance, fetching and carrying for her--and of course living upon her! He used to arrange all her parties. Justine says that he used even to make her order all his favourite wines--_such_ bills as there used to be for wine! He has a wife and children somewhere, and of course the whole family lived upon your mother. It was he made her begin speculating. Justine says he has lost all he ever had himself that way, and your mother couldn't, in fact, '_lend'_ him"--Letty laughed scornfully--"money fast enough. It was he brought her across that odious creature Shapetsky--isn't that his name? And that's the whole story. If there have been any gains, he has made off with them--leaving her, of course, to get out of the rest. Justine says that for months there was nothing but business, as she calls it, talked in the house--and she knew, for she used to help wait at dinner. And such a crew of people as used to be about the place!" She looked at him, struck at last by his silence and his attitude, or pausing for some comment, some appreciation of her cleverness in ferreting it all out. But he did not speak, and she was puzzled. The angry triumph in her eyes faltered. She put out her hand and touched him on the arm. "What is it, George? I thought--it would be more satisfactory to us both to know the truth." He looked up quickly. "And all this your maid got out of Justine? You asked her?" She was struck, offended, by his expression. It was so cool and strange--even, she could have imagined, contemptuous. "Yes, I did," she said passionately. "I thought I was quite justified. We must protect ourselves." He was silent again. "I think," he said at last, drily, she watching him--"I think we will keep Justine and Grier out of it, if you please." She took her work, and laid it down again, her mouth trembling. "So you had rather be deceived?" "I had rather be deceived than listen behind doors," he said, beginning in a light tone, which, however, passed immediately into one of bitterness. "Besides, there is nothing new. For people like my mother there is always some adventurer or adventuress in the background--there always used to be in old days. She never meant any serious harm; she was first plundered, then we. My father used to be for ever turning some impostor or other out of doors. Now I suppose it is my turn." This time it was Letty who kept silence. Her needle passed rapidly to and fro. George glanced at her queerly. Then he rose and came to stand near her, leaning against the tree.