"Hush!" she interrupted. "Are you going to be all day with those things, Mason?" "I hope I haven't been slower than usual, ma'am," said Mason very stiffly. At last he went. In an instant Mina darted across to Neeld, and caught him by the arm. "What have you to tell me?" she cried. "To tell you? I? Oh, dear, no, Madame Zabriska! I assure you----" "Oh, there's no need for that! Harry said you were to tell me before they arrived; that's why I sent for you now." "He said I was to tell you----?" "Yes, yes. Something you knew and I didn't; something that would explain it all." She stood before him with clasped hands. "It's quite true; he did say so," she pleaded. "It's all been so delightful, and yet so strange; and he told me to be ready either to stay here or to go home to-night! Tell me, tell me, Mr Neeld!" "Why didn't he tell you himself?" "I only saw him alone for an instant after the wedding; and before it he didn't say a word about there being anything to tell. There's a secret. What is it?" He was glad to tell it. He had carried his burden long enough. "We've all made a great blunder. Harry is Lord Tristram after all." Mina stood silent for a moment. "Oh!" she gasped. "And he's married Cecily without telling her?" "That's what he has done, I regret to say. And I take it that he means to tell her to-night." Mina sank into a chair. "What will she do?" she murmured. "What will she do?" "There was a mistake--or rather a fraud--about the date of Sir Randolph Edge's death; his brother knew it. I'll tell you the details if you like. But that's the end and the sum of it. As to why he didn't tell--er--his wife sooner, perhaps you know better than I." "Yes, I know that," she said. And then--it was most inconsiderate, most painful to Mr Neeld--she began to cry. Unable to bear this climax of excitement coming on the top of her two days' emotion, she sobbed hysterically. "They'll be here at seven!" she moaned. "What will happen? Oh, Mr Neeld! And I know he'll expect me to be calm and--and to carry it off--and be composed. How can I be?" "Perhaps a glass of sherry----?" was Mr Neeld's not unreasonable suggestion. No, the old brown would not serve here. But without its aid a sudden change came over Mina. She sprang to her feet and left the tears to roll down her cheeks untended as she cried, "What a splendid thing to do! Oh, how like Harry! And it's to be settled to-night! What can we do to make it go right?" "I intend to take no responsibility at all," protested Neeld. "I'm here to speak to the facts if I'm wanted, but----" "Oh, bother the facts! What are we to do to make her take it properly?" She gave another sob. "Oh, I'm an idiot!" she cried. "Haven't you anything to suggest, Mr Neeld?" He shrugged his shoulders peevishly. Her spirits fell again.