"At Portfront," said Leo, with a nod to Adam, who smiled. "He told me he had been up to London on your business. I gave him a lift part of the way. Didn't I, Adam?" "I shouldn't have got home otherwise, sir," said Adam, respectfully, and departed to get food for his benefactor. Pratt seemed pleased that his servant was so friendly with Leo. He had a great opinion of Adam's intelligence. Also, Adam was a power in the house--but Leo did not know that. Later on, he learned all about it, to his great astonishment. "Come now," said Pratt, when Leo had eaten and had finished a glass or two of port. "Tell me about this cup. _Did_ you take it?" "I certainly did not!" said Leo, stiffly. "I wonder at your asking me such a question, Pratt! I am not a thief!" His host laughed somewhat nervously. "I only wanted to be sure, my dear lad," he said. "Don't get angry with your best and only friend." "I have another friend," said Leo, looking up from the cigar he was cutting, "and that is Sybil. She does not believe that I am guilty." "Have you seen her, then?" "No. But I do not want to see her in order to know that. She loves me, Mr Pratt, and would never believe me guilty. No; not though the evidence was twice as strong against me!" "The evidence _is_ strong," said Pratt, rubbing his chin. "You were seen at the chapel, and--" "And I have paid my debts," finished Leo. "So I have, and I can explain how I paid them; also my movements on that night." And he forthwith related to Pratt the story he had already told Mrs Gabriel. The man believed him much more readily than the woman. But then Pratt liked Leo, and Mrs Gabriel--as she had shown plainly--hated him with all the intensity of her stern and cruel nature. "You say that Hale lent you the money?" asked Pratt. "As I told you--in gold." "And he now denies that he did so?" "So Mrs Gabriel says. But I shall see for myself to-morrow." Pratt reflected, staring into the fire. "It seems to be a conspiracy," he said slowly. "I wonder what his game is?" Leo remembered that Sybil had also been uncomfortable when she heard that Hale intended to lend him the money. A thought flashed into his mind as Pratt spoke. "I believe that Hale is in love with Sibyl," said he. "Humph! And his sister Edith is in love with you." Leo coloured a little at this very direct remark. "I believe she is," said he, with an embarrassed laugh; "but I assure you, Pratt, the feeling is not reciprocal. The only woman I have ever loved, whom I shall ever love, is Sybil Tempest. And the course of our true love does not run smooth," he finished, with a sigh. "A conspiracy," repeated Pratt, who was not paying much attention to what Leo was saying. "Yes! I believe it to be one. By lending you that money Hale hoped to get you into his power, so as to induce you to give up Sibyl to him and marry Edith." "If he ever did have so ridiculous an idea," said Leo, angrily, "he has thrown away the fruits of it by denying the loan."