"That is very good. But Lady Woodroffe didn't do that at all. She was much more effective. Sit bolt upright in your chair; stiffen yourself; turn your eyes upon me quickly; at the mention of the dead child, let all the colour go out of your face; at the word 'substitution' let your head swim, clutch at the arms of your chair--so--recover in a moment. Look at me again with strangely troubled eyes--so--you remember you are going to fight; harden your face; set your lips firm; let your eyes be like flints for resolution--so. Molly, my dear, if you were to practise for a twelvemonth you couldn't do it half so well as Lady Woodroffe herself. As a study she was most valuable. If there had been any doubt before in my mind, there would be none now." "How will Humphrey take it?" "Are you concerned about him still, Molly?--after that midnight walk of ours?" "Well, Dick, he has not had my answer yet. I must consider him a little. And he is your half-brother, remember." "He will become, like his half-brother, an outsider--ha! an outsider, a cad, a bounder!" Dick snorted. Forgiveness and tenderness to the man who was trying to take his girl from him could not be expected. Just then a telegram was brought in. It came from a certain firm of solicitors at Birmingham, and was addressed to Richard Woodroffe-- "_Have found the medical man who attended the child. He has his notes, remembers the case, has identified lady from photograph; will swear to her!_" "Good Heavens!" Richard waved the telegram over his head. "We have got the next step. We can identify Lady Woodroffe with the woman whose child died." He read the telegram. "Is there anything more wanted, at all?" "There is one thing wanted. It is the identification of the lady as the adopter of the child, and that lies in the hands of Sir Robert." "Do you think he knows?" "I am certain he knows. Why did he ask us all to dinner, if he does not know? I am pretty certain, too, that he won't let out, unless we make him." "How can we make him, Dick, if he won't?" "There is only one way, Molly. The case is strong, circumstantially--that if we make it public, the world will be forced to believe it, whatever the lady may say and swear. Nothing could be stronger." "I want no proof," said Alice. "If you cannot bring my son to me, I shall go to him and tell him all." "The one thing that will weigh with Sir Robert and the lady is the fear of publicity. I will make one more attempt, Molly. I will go to the lady first and to the doctor afterwards. If they remain obdurate, I will take advice as to the best way of obtaining publicity. And that will ruin the one and damage the other." There was one other person present at this council. It was John Haveril. He said nothing, but he listened, with far-away eyes, like a gardener over a strawberry-bed. When Dick concluded, he took his hands out of his pockets and walked out of the room. CHAPTER XX. JOHN HAVERIL CLEARS UP THINGS.