"Your pardon, Mr. Carstares--you are right: his lordship could not rob a brother. Yet have I known a man do such a thing." For a long minute there was no word spoken. The suspicion that had dwelt latent in Carstares' eyes sprang up again. Some of the colour drained from his cheeks, and twice he passed his tongue between his lips. The fingers of his hand, gripping a chair-back, opened and shut spasmodically. Rather feverishly his eyes searched the lawyer's face, questioning. "John told you--told you--" he started, and floundered hopelessly. "His lordship told me nothing, sir. He was singularly reticent. But there was nothing he could tell me that I did not already know." "What do you mean, Warburton? Why do you look at me like that? Why do you fence with me? In plain words, what do you mean?" Warburton rose, clenching his hands. "I know you, Master Richard, for what you are!" "Ah!" Carstares flung out his hand as if to ward off a blow. Another tense silence. With a great effort Warburton controlled himself, and once more the mask of impassivity seemed to descend upon him. After that one tortured cry Richard became calm again. He sat down; on his face a look almost of relief, coming after a great strain. "You learnt the truth ... from John. He ... will expose me?" "No, sir. I have not learnt it from him. And he will never expose you." Richard turned his head. His eyes, filled now with a species of dull pain, looked full into Warburton's. "Oh?" he said. "Then you...?" "Nor I, sir. I have pledged my word to his lordship. I would not speak all these years for your father's sake--now it is for his." He choked. "You ... are fond of John?" Still the apathetic, weary voice. "Fond of him--? Good God, Master Dick, I love him!" "And I," said Richard, very low. He received no reply, and looked up. "You don't believe me?" "Once, sir, I was certain of it. Now--!" he shrugged. "Yet 'tis true, Warburton. I would give all in my power to undo that night's work." "You cannot expect me to believe that, sir. It rests with you alone whether his name be cleared or not. And you remain silent." "Warburton, I--Oh, do you think it means nothing to me that John is outcast?" Before the misery in those grey eyes some of Warburton's severity fell away from him. "Master Richard, I want to think the best I can of you. Master Jack would tell me nothing. Will you not--can you not explain how it came that you allowed him to bear the blame of your cheat?" Richard shuddered. "There's no explanation--no excuse. I forced it on him! On Jack, my brother! Because I was mad for love of Lavinia--Oh, my God, the thought of it is driving me crazed! I thought I could forget; and then--and then--I met him! The sight of him brought it all back to me. Ever since that day I have not known how to live and not shriek the truth to everyone! And I never shall! I never shall!" "Tell me, sir," pleaded Warburton, touched in spite of himself.