He rose suddenly to his feet and left her, without a word or a look, walking slowly down the length of the room. When he turned and came back to her, his face was composed; he was master of himself again. Mercy was the first to speak. She turned the conversation from herself by reverting to the proceedings in Lady Janet’s room. “You spoke of Horace just now,” she said, “in terms which surprised me. You appeared to think that he would not hold me to my explanation. Is that one of the conclusions which you draw from Lady Janet’s letter?” “Most assuredly,” Julian answered. “You will see the conclusion as I see it if we return for a moment to Grace Roseberry’s departure from the house.” Mercy interrupted him there. “Can you guess,” she asked, “how Lady Janet prevailed upon her to go?” “I hardly like to own it,” said Julian. “There is an expression in the letter which suggests to me that Lady Janet has offered her money, and that she has taken the bribe.” “Oh, I can’t think that!” “Let us return to Horace. Miss Roseberry once out of the house, but one serious obstacle is left in Lady Janet’s way. That obstacle is Horace Holmcroft.” “How is Horace an obstacle?” “He is an obstacle in this sense. He is under an engagement to marry you in a week’s time; and Lady Janet is determined to keep him (as she is determined to keep every one else) in ignorance of the truth. She will do that without scruple. But the inbred sense of honor in her is not utterly silenced yet. She cannot, she dare not, let Horace make you his wife under the false impression that you are Colonel Roseberry’s daughter. You see the situation? On the one hand, she won’t enlighten him. On the other hand, she cannot allow him to marry you blindfold. In this emergency what is she to do? There is but one alternative that I can discover. She must persuade Horace (or she must irritate Horace) into acting for himself, and breaking off the engagement on his own responsibility.” Mercy stopped him. “Impossible!” she cried, warmly. “Impossible!” “Look again at her letter,” Julian rejoined. “It tells you plainly that you need fear no embarrassment when you next meet Horace. If words mean anything, those words mean that he will not claim from you the confidence which you have promised to repose in him. On what condition is it possible for him to abstain from doing that? On the one condition that you have ceased to represent the first and foremost interest of his life.” Mercy still held firm. “You are wronging Lady Janet,” she said. Julian smiled sadly.