Look here! This poor child is a living sacrifice to a man whose history is a horrible chapter of dishonour. He is a man who preys upon the weak under the mask of a false name; who stabs but has not the mercy to kill; and who leaves his victims to bleed to death in their hearts, slowly but surely. MRS. STONEHAY. I always feared this was a worthless girl. But pray, what has her depravity to do with us? LESLIE. Only this. Janet has just discovered the whereabouts of the man she has been seeking. MRS. STONEHAY. Really this is no concern of ours. LESLIE. There you are mistaken, Mrs. Stonehay. MRS. STONEHAY. Mistaken? LESLIE. Yes. Because, if this man were willing to atone to Janet Preece by marrying her, he could not fulfil his engagement to your daughter. IRENE. Oh! MRS. STONEHAY. This is an infamous fabrication! LESLIE. [_To JANET._] Is it the truth? JANET PREECE. It is--the truth. [_JANET sinks back upon the sofa burying her face in the pillows._] IRENE. Oh, Leslie! MRS. STONEHAY. A girl of that character lives upon her lying romances, and the woman who harbours such a creature becomes a partner and not a protector. [_To IRENE._] Come--do you hear me! IRENE. No, no! Leslie! LESLIE. Dunstan! [_DUNSTAN RENSHAW and LORD DANGARS enter._] DUNSTAN RENSHAW. [_Tenderly._] Leslie. [_He bows to MRS. STONEHAY and IRENE._] Leslie, dear, let me introduce Lord Dangars to you. [_JANET raises her head with a startled look of horror._] LORD DANGARS. [_Offering his hand._] Mrs. Renshaw, I---- LESLIE. No, Dunstan; forgive me--I cannot make the acquaintance of Lord Dangars. DUNSTAN RENSHAW. [_In an undertone._] Leslie! LESLIE. If Lord Dangars wishes for an explanation, Dunstan, I have only to recall to him the existence of this unhappy girl whose story is known to me. [_She reveals JANET._] JANET PREECE. No, no! LESLIE. Janet Preece. [_DUNSTAN stares at JANET helplessly and horror-stricken._] LORD DANGARS. I should not be so impolite as to disturb Mrs. Renshaw’s prejudices against me were they founded upon less illusory evidence. But I can assure Mrs. Renshaw that I believe I have never seen this young lady until the present moment. [_LESLIE looks aghast at JANET._] MRS. STONEHAY. Janet, do _you_ say you know Lord Dangars? JANET PREECE. No, no! It’s not he I know! It is a mistake--I---- MRS. STONEHAY. A mistake! JANET PREECE. Ah! Let me go! let me go! [_LESLIE grasps her by the arm._] MRS. STONEHAY. Girl, do you mean that you know _Mr. Renshaw_? [_DANGARS and LESLIE turn to DUNSTAN, who is staring blankly before him with his hands clenched._] LESLIE. Janet! Janet! [_As the truth dawns upon her._] Oh! JANET PREECE. Ah! What have I done to you! I’d have died to save you this. God forgive me! I’m not fit to live! Kill me! Kill me! Ah! [_She rushes down the garden steps, past LESLIE, who is as one turned to stone._] MRS. STONEHAY.