"If not at the moment, very speedily. You will admit, I think, with your clever brain, that you should not remain under the roof of such an honourable English, gentleman as he is a day longer than necessary." "I will admit it, from your point of view, if you like. Oh, believe me, I can see your side," replied this remarkable young woman. "But you will forgive me, Major Murchison, if I say that, from my point of view, I would have preferred that you had never been born. Guy is very happy; he believes in me and trusts me. It will be a great blow to him as to me." "I know. I wish it were in my power to spare him this misery. But, in common honesty, I cannot." "And have you thought of what is to become of me when I am turned out of my husband's house?" she inquired in a composed voice. Her adroit mind had evidently adapted itself to the altered circumstances, and was now busied in turning them, as far as possible, to her own advantage. "You have George Dutton to fall back upon, also Tommie Esmond," was Murchison's retort. She snapped her fingers in a fashion that was almost vulgar, and she was so free from vulgar actions. "George is thankful that I can, from time to time, fling him a ten-pound note; his luck has deserted him. Tommie Esmond, I believe, saved a bit out of the wreck, but he has not more than enough to keep body and soul together." "Guy is not a man to behave ungenerously, however deeply he has been wronged," said Hugh, after he had reflected a few moments. He added more hesitatingly, "And if Guy should take an obdurate attitude, it is possible I might come to your assistance. I have hunted you down, but I do not want to drive you into the gutter." "But a man must support his wife, even if her past has not been quite so respectable as it might have been," she cried defiantly. Hugh directed upon her a searching look. "Mrs Spencer, it is in my mind that you may not be Guy's wife after all. If I probed a little deeper, I might get at your real relations with this George Dutton, or rather Burton." "Oh, this time you are really pursuing a will-o'-the-wisp, I assure you. George has never been anything to me but brother or cousin, as the occasion demanded." She paused a second, and there was a terrified look in her eyes as she added, "But even if your suspicions were correct, which they are not, you would not go back from your own promise. If Guy proved obdurate, you would not drive me to the gutter. You promised me that." "I shall keep my promise, Mrs Spencer, and I will give it you in writing, if you wish." "It would be as well. And you will want something from me in writing also, I expect," she concluded shrewdly. "Certainly I shall," said Hugh steadily. "I shall draw up a full confession for you to sign, to prevent you from ever troubling your husband again--if, as I suggested just now, he is your husband."