"That time after time, while he was professing to be so sober, our Mr George Harrington sat drinking with Saul half, and sometimes all the night. Three times over did old Mrs Denton come to me, pretending it was to help her about some domestic matter, over which she did not want to trouble Gertrude here, and it was to show me Mr George Harrington asleep in the study, where he had been all night. Ah! here she is. Mrs Denton, how many times did you find the gentleman--bah!--the man who came and said he was Mr Harrington--asleep in his chair in the study." "Six, ma'am," said the old housekeeper. "No: it was eight." "Now, don't exaggerate, Denton. It was only three." "I beg your pardon, ma'am; I only came to you three times. There were five other times when I woke him, and got him up to bed myself, so stupid and confused that he could only ask where Mr Saul was. They had been sitting in the study together when I went to bed, and he must have let Mr Saul out himself and then gone back and fallen asleep in his chair. A telegram, miss." Gertrude eagerly took the message, tore open the envelope, read, and passed it to Mrs Hampton who also read it anxiously. "_What do you mean? George did not come with me. He refused in your presence. Just off to Switzerland. Wire to Glacier Hotel, Chamounix_." "You need not wait, Denton," said Gertrude. "No, miss; but might I make so bold: is there any news of--of the gentleman who said he was Mr George?" "No, Denton; none at all." "And might I ask when Mr George is coming again?" Gertrude looked at the old lawyer, who only looked close as one of his own tin boxes, so she transferred her gaze to the doctor, who fidgeted about beneath the inquiring eyes. Gertrude rose from the table, laid her hand upon the old woman's arm, and led her from the room. "Denton--dear old nurse," she said affectionately, "you must be patient and wait. We are all in a terrible state of perplexity; do not increase it by asking questions." The old woman caught her hand and kissed it affectionately. "Not another word will I say, my dear, till you speak to me. But, Miss Gertie, I know I'm right. This last one is Master George. Why, my darling, you can see it in his eyes and in his fine manly way to me--the poor old woman who nursed him as a child." "Yes, yes, Denton; but please say no more now." "Only one word, my dear, and it's about you. If the other comes back and wants you to side with him, and be his wife, don't listen to him. You shall not. I'd sooner kill him than he should ever take you in his arms." "Denton!" "I've done, my dear. It was only my love for the little girl I helped to bring up that made me speak. Don't be angry with me, dear. I forget sometimes that I'm only a servant. That's right. If you only smile at me like that you make me feel so happy again." Gertrude returned to the dining-room, to find that a discussion was going on, and the doctor speaking.