"As to that," was Mr Payne's reply, "there can be no manner of doubt; whereas, but for your intervention, time of the most precious might have been lost. The whole _eclaircissement_, in short, delayed till, in the eyes of those chiefly concerned, it had lost its greatest value for them! But, excuse me, I still feel almost stupefied. It will take a little time for this extraordinary aspect of things to get into focus with me." "Yes," I replied, "I can understand that." I said no more, hoping--for of course I cannot pretend that I felt no curiosity, no legitimate interest rather, in the further unfolding of the mystery--hoping that I was going to hear more. But such for the moment was not to be, though Mr Payne seemed by instinct to guess that I might be expecting him to volunteer some explanation, for his next words were in deprecation, almost in apology, for his not offering anything of the kind. "I wish," he said, "that I could talk the whole thing out with you. That is not yet in my power. And," with a resumption of his friendly, less professional manner, "if I may say so, you have shown yourself such a sensible girl that I am sure you will understand the delay, though eventually it will be only due to you to hear the whole sad history." At this juncture, for the first time almost, Clarence spoke. "If you have no objection, father," he said, "it may be as well for Miss Fitzmaurice to understand that it is only of recent date that we have again been drawn into personal relations with the--Grey family. And I myself," and he turned to me, "have only made their acquaintance within the last year or so." "I thought so," was my reply, "for however carefully they have hedged themselves round, there could not but be gossip about the Grim House. The neighbours were quite aware of your first visit there!" Mr Payne, senior, pricked up his ears at what I said. "Indeed!" he remarked drily. But then his tone altered again. "I think I may tell you a little more, which, if you have not already suspected it, you are sure to hear through your father; that is, that `Grey' is not the real name of the family." I bent my head in agreement; I _had_ thought so. "And," resumed Clarence, "the business which has taken us down, I more frequently than my father, has no connection with the old affair." He glanced at Mr Payne, as if for acquiescence in his continuing. "Not very long ago, they--the elder brother--came into possession of a large estate, which we manage for him. Not that for many, many years past, twenty-five or thirty, I suppose--" "Fully twenty-five," interposed the elder Mr Payne. "--They have been at all poor," continued Clarence. "And now they are really very wealthy." "I am glad to hear it," I said simply. "Then, that poor Caryll can have _everything_ that money can do to make him well, or at least to soften his suffering?"