She found Grey waiting for her with his wonted impatience, and presently told him about William Roper. "This is the very thing I've been fearing," he said with a sudden heaviness. "It will certainly force Mr. Flexen's hand," she said. "I don't know--I don't know," he said more hopefully. "Flexen struck me as being the kind of man to act just when it suited him, and I expect that he had known all along anything William Roper had to tell." "Yes, he did. Twitcher told me that Roper had an interview with him on the afternoon after Egbert's death," she said, catching a little of his hopefulness. "Well, if he hasn't done anything about it so far, there's no reason why he should act immediately the story becomes common property," he said in a tone of relief. "No--no," she said slowly. Then she sobbed once and cried: "But, oh, this waiting's so dreadful! Never knowing what's going to happen and when--feeling that he's lying in wait all the time." "It is pretty awful," he said, drawing her more closely to him and kissing her. She clung tightly to him, quivering. "The only thing to do is to stick it out, and when the time comes--if it comes--put up a good fight. I think we shall," he said in a cheering tone. "Of course we will," she said firmly, gave herself a little shake, and relaxed her grip a little. He kissed her again, and they were silent a while, both of them thinking hard. Then he said: "Look here: let's get married." "Get married?" she said. "Yes. The more we belong to one another the better we shall feel." "But--but won't there be rather an outcry at our marrying so soon?" she said. "Oh, if people knew of it, yes. But I don't propose that they should. We'll get married quite quietly. I'll get a special licence. The padre of my regiment is in Town, and he'll marry us. I can find a couple of witnesses who'll hold their tongues. We can get married in twenty-four hours. Will you?" "Yes," she said firmly. His surprise at her ready assent was drowned in the joy it gave him. The next morning at half-past nine Mr. Manley rang up Mr. Flexen at his office at Low Wycombe. When he heard his voice he said: "Good morning, Flexen. A young fellow of the name of William Roper will be calling on you this morning. I expect you know all he has to say already. But do you see anything to be gained by his making a pestiferous, scandal-mongering nuisance of himself?" "I do not. I will say a few kind words to him," said Mr. Flexen grimly. Mr. Manley thanked him and rang off. Then he sent Hutchings down to the village to let it be known that any one who let William Roper lodge in his or her cottage would at once receive notice to quit it. He thought it improbable, in view of the general unpleasantness of William Roper, that he would be called on to carry out the threat.