‘I did. You know what we have always said of Belassis between ourselves. I distrusted him then, though without the same ground, no less than I do now that I have had the honour of his acquaintance. I don’t know what first put the notion into my head. It seemed to come all in a moment; and at first, I confess, my chief thought was that it would be a fine practical joke to play upon your people, just to personate you until you could come over and take up the _rôle_ yourself. I knew nobody had seen you since you were a small boy, and I felt that I could play the part quite naturally and well for a few weeks, and rather enjoyed the idea of being the first to bring Belassis to see that his power had reached its zenith. I felt that that task would come easier to me than to you, old chap.’ Phil nodded. ‘Go on. I begin to see.’ ‘I should hope you do. Well, I’ve about told you all now. Of course, once the irrevocable step taken, I began to see that it was something more than a joke; and I had to be very careful to leave no clue which could tell against me, in case a suspicion were raised. I believed every precaution had been taken, for that _you_ would ever turn against me, never once entered my head, and even then I should not have thought you clever enough to overturn all my carefully laid plans. I had got on very well, on the whole, and weathered several threatened storms before you turned up; but, when you appeared, I knew there was danger ahead, and I sent for my only ally and confidante, Miss Marjory Descartes. I think she gave you a taste of her tongue on one or two occasions, did she not?’ ‘Yes, she scared me half out of my senses. Who is she, Tor?’ ‘An old friend of my father’s—a very clever woman. You will like her, Phil.’ ‘If she doesn’t make me nervous. How came you to confide in her, Tor?’ ‘I had to; she gave me no choice. She knew me from my likeness to my father; but I never regretted it; she has taken my part boldly.’ ‘She has. You ought to make her Mrs. Torwood.’ ‘I might do worse, if I were thirty years older; but, Phil, old fellow, my young affections are bespoken elsewhere.’ ‘I know.’ And poor Phil’s face clouded suddenly. ‘Do you? You have sharp eyes if you do. Think, Phil, what I have had to put up with for your sake—to pretend to be her brother all the time, and dispassionately to await her acceptance or rejection of other suitors. It’s not many men who would have been so patient as I have been.’ ‘What are you talking about?’ cried Phil eagerly. ‘Whom is it you want to marry?’ ‘Maud—my sister up till to-night—your sister henceforward, thank goodness! Have you any objection?’ ‘Maud!’ cried Phil ecstatically. ‘Maud, is it? Oh, Tor, old fellow, what could be more to my mind? Oh, if I had only known! And I have been so madly jealous, thinking it was Roma!’ ‘Ah!’ and Tor’s eyes suddenly opened wide. ‘So you and Roma have fallen a prey to one another, have you?’