Miss Bewicke had a knack of walking--it came by nature, though there were those who called it a trick--which gave her a curious, and, indeed, humorous, air of importance altogether beyond anything her stature seemed to warrant. This enabled her to overwhelm men, and even women who were much taller than herself, with a grace which was positively charming. She moved across that spacious hall, looking straight at Miss Broad, as if there was nothing there; and was walking past with an apparent unconsciousness of there being anyone within a mile, though she brushed against the other's skirts as she passed, which was a little more than Miss Broad could endure. She was not going all the way to Brighton to be treated by that woman as if she were a nonentity. 'Miss Bewicke!' The lady, who had passed, turned. 'I beg your pardon?' 'Can I speak to you?' 'Speak to me?' She regarded the other with a smile which, if pretty, was impertinent. 'I'm afraid I haven't the pleasure.' 'I am Miss Broad.' 'Broad?--Broad? I don't seem to remember.' 'Perhaps you remember Mr Holland.' 'Mr Holland?--Guy Holland? Oh, yes, I have good cause for remembering him.' 'Mr Holland has spoken of me to you?' 'Oh! You are that Miss Broad! I have pleasure in wishing you good morning.' Miss Bewicke walked off as if, so far as she was concerned, the matter was at an end; but so abrupt a termination to the interview the other would not permit. 'I am sorry to detain you, Miss Bewicke, but, as I have said, I wish to speak to you.' 'Yes. What do you wish to say?' 'Can I not speak to you in private?' 'By all means.' Miss Bewicke led the way into a sitting-room. As soon as they were in, and the door closed, before the other had a chance to open her lips, she herself began the ball. 'Miss Broad, before you speak, there is something which I wish to say to you. You incited Mr Guy Holland to commit, last night, a burglary upon my premises.' If she expected the other to show signs of confusion, or to attempt denial, she was mistaken. Miss Broad did not flinch. 'I did.' 'You admit it?' 'I do.' 'Are you aware that in so doing you were guilty of a criminal action?' 'As to that I know nothing, and care less.' 'I have only to send for a policeman to have you sentenced to a term of imprisonment.' 'I understand how it is you have been so successful on the stage. You really are an excellent actress. You bear yourself as if you were the injured party, while all the time you know very well that it was precisely because you had robbed him that I advised him to despoil you of your booty.' 'You are perfectly aware that that is false.' 'On the contrary, I am perfectly aware that it is true. Where is Mr Holland? Is he here with you?' 'Miss Broad!' 'Or did you dare to make his doing, what you know he was perfectly justified in doing, an affair of the police?' 'I came upon Guy Holland, at dead of night, engaged in robbing me, and I sent him from me with my blessing.'