"I knew that I should have to bear your reproaches," said Dino, with folded arms and downcast eyes. Then, after a pause, during which Brian walked up and down the room impatiently, he added in a lower tone, "But I did not think that they would have been so bitter." Brian stopped short and looked at him, then came and laid his hand gently on his shoulder. "Poor Dino!" he said, "I ought to remember how unlike all the rest of the world you are. Forgive me. I did not mean to hurt you. No doubt you thought that you were acting for the best." Dino looked up, and met the somewhat melancholy kindness of Brian's gaze. His heart was already full: his impulsive nature was longing to assert itself: with one great sob he threw his arms round Brian's neck, and fell weeping upon his shoulder. "But, my dear Dino," said Brian, when the storm (the reason of which he understood very imperfectly) had subsided, "you must see that this communication of my secret to Mr. Heron will make a difference in my plans." "What difference?" "I must start to-morrow instead of next week." "No, Brian, no." "I must, indeed. Heron will tell your story to Brett, to Colquhoun, to Mrs. Luttrell, to Miss Murray. He may have telegraphed it already. It is very important to him, because, you see," said Brian, with a sad half-smile, "he is going to marry Miss Murray, and, unless he knows your history, he will think that my existence will deprive her of her fortune." "I do not believe he will tell your story to anyone." "Dino, caro mio! Heron is a man of honour. He can do nothing less, unfortunately." "I think he will do less. I think that no word of what I have told him will pass his lips." "It would be impossible for him to keep silence," remarked Brian, coldly, and Dino said nothing more. It was after a long silence, when the candle had died out, and the fire had grown so dim that they could not see each other's faces, that Brian said in a low, but quiet tone-- "Did you tell him why I left Strathleckie?" "Yes, I did." Brian suppressed a vexed exclamation. It was no use trying to make Dino understand his position. "What did he say?" he asked. "He knew already." "Ah! Yes. So I should have supposed." And there the conversation ended.