“I fear you will be disappointed, Mr. Fuller,” she replied coldly, “for my history and that of Baldwin is uneventful on the whole. We are the children of a doctor who practised at Canterbury, and who made money. Mr. Sorley was a patient of my father’s and took a fancy to Baldwin when he came home from Oxford, where he was being educated. When Baldwin finished his college career and got his degree——” “Oh,” Alan was plainly surprised, “he got his degree, did he?” “Baldwin was an extremely clever man,” cried Miss Grison impetuously, and her hands trembled with emotion. “I don’t see why you should ask me such a question in such a manner. He took his degree with great credit, and came home to go in for the law. But Mr. Sorley, who was writing his book on precious stones, offered to make Baldwin his secretary, and the offer was accepted because my father had died and did not leave us so well off as was expected. My brother went to The Monastery and I stayed with my mother for some years, until she died. Then I paid a visit to Belstone, and Mrs. Inderwick, who was then alive, asked me to remain as her companion. I was with her for years, until she died, and managed to gather enough money out of my salary to start this boarding-house. Shortly after Marie was born her mother died, and she was left to the grandmother of Henny and Jenny to look after.” “Why not to you?” “Because I had already left the place,” said Miss Grison, flushing, and with sparkling eyes. “Sorley quarrelled with my brother as he quarrelled with everyone, and it ended in Baldwin being dismissed.” “But what reason was given for his dismissal?” Miss Grison hesitated and looked at the fire. “I suppose I may as well talk candidly to you, since so much rests on your knowing the exact truth.” “It will be just as well,” said Fuller positively. “Well then,” she drew a deep breath, “although I loved Baldwin and although he was clever and amiable, he had a weak character. He learned to smoke opium and he took more drink than was good for him. In a moment of madness, and because Mr. Sorley paid him so badly, he forged his employer’s name to a small check for five pounds. Mr. Sorley found this out and threatened to prosecute him, especially as Baldwin—I don’t deny it—made himself objectionable to Mrs. Inderwick. However, Mr. Sorley did not prosecute——” “Why not? He doesn’t seem to me to be a merciful man.” “He’s a cruel, hard beast,” said Miss Grison fiercely, “and you heard my opinion of him at Belstone. It was no fault of his that Baldwin was not put in jail. I managed to stop that.” “In what way?”