“I suppose he thought that Sir Vernon would soon make John give me up, and that between them they could fix up for John and Miss Cowper to marry. Or perhaps he relied on my telling John, and thought John would let him have the money to prevent him from going to Sir Vernon.” “Yes, that seems the most probable explanation. And did you see Mr. Prinsep after your meeting with Walter Brooklyn?” “Yes, for a few moments. He had seen Mr. Brooklyn, too, and was very angry. Mr. Brooklyn had used the same threat to him as he used to me.” “And how had Mr. Prinsep taken it?” “He had refused to give Mr. Brooklyn a penny, and said he would see Sir Vernon himself.” “In order to tell him of your engagement?” Again came the answer, painfully given, “I do not know.” “I am sorry, Miss Lang, but I have not quite done. Did you see Mr. George Brooklyn on Tuesday?” “Yes, he came here to see me after he had left Liskeard House in the evening.” “At what time was that?” “It was after ten o’clock—probably about a quarter past. I am off the stage for a long time then.” “Was Mr. George Brooklyn a friend of yours?” “Yes, in a way. At least, Mrs. George Brooklyn is a very dear friend. I used to understudy her when she was Isabelle Raven. She was _the_ Isabelle Raven, you know.” “Yes. Then there was nothing unusual in Mr. George Brooklyn’s coming to see you here?” “I don’t think he had ever been to my room before. I had often met him at his own house or at Liskeard House.” “Did he come for some special purpose?” “Yes, he came to see me about my engagement to Mr. Prinsep.” “Do you mind telling me more exactly what you mean?” “Until recently, Mr. Prinsep always behaved to me as if we were engaged. Lately, his manner to me had changed. When I spoke to him about it, he laughed it off, and I tried to go on treating him as I had done. But about a fortnight ago I had a letter from Mr. Carter Woodman—you know him, I expect—saying he would like to discuss with me certain matters placed in his hands by Mr. Prinsep. I wrote back saying that I could not conceive that there was anything in my relations with John that called for a lawyer’s interference. Then I took the letter to John, and we had a real quarrel about it. I asked him if I was to consider our engagement at an end; but he put me off, and before I could get him to answer we were interrupted. I did not see him again until Tuesday, and then only for a minute. I meant to try to clear matters up, and to tell him I could not go on like that; but he was called away, and I had no chance. Then in the evening George Brooklyn came to see me.” “Will you tell me what happened then?” “He asked me point-blank whether I had been engaged to John. I said that I certainly had been, but that I didn’t know whether I still was. I told him that I still loved John; but I asked him to let John know—he had promised to see him when he left me—that I considered our engagement definitely at an end, unless he desired to renew it.”