Durham stepped out of the brougham rather afraid of the old dame. She was so clever that she seemed to read his most secret thoughts. He was glad the drive was at an end, and held out his hand to say good-bye. To his surprise and vexation Miss Berengaria stepped out at his heels. "I'm coming in to talk," she said, and marched up the steps. "I go down to-night to Hurseton, and I want to arrange what is to be done. Not a word, young man. I am Bernard's friend and so are you. If we don't combine it's all up with the poor fool." Durham followed the energetic lady with a feeling of helplessness, not knowing very well how to get rid of her. And he had particular reasons for not having her in the office. Conniston was coming to see him, and a meeting between him and his aunt might be productive of trouble. Not that Miss Plantagenet was his aunt, as she was only a distant relative. But she always styled herself so, and would answer to no other term. Durham regretted that he had accepted the lady's offer to be driven to his office. But it was too late by this time, for Miss Berengaria was in the room. And in the room also sat Lord Conniston, now out of uniform, and looking much excited. "Ha!" said Miss Plantagenet, not recognizing the young man, "and who is this?" She turned to Durham, who shot past her, making a sign of silence to his friend. "A client of mine. Will you leave us for a moment, Conniston?" The name slipped out before he was aware, and he could have stamped with vexation to see how quickly Miss Berengaria grasped the situation. With a grim smile she looked at the astonished young man. "So you are Dick," she said looking at him through a double eyeglass. "I haven't seen you since you made yourself sick in my garden. Bernard told Alice by letter that he met you. Where are you staying?" "I don't understand," stammered Conniston, while Durham, giving up Miss Plantagenet as impossible, sat shuffling his papers. "You ought not to be dense. Don't you remember me boxing your ears?" Conniston burst out laughing. "Oh! by Jove! It's Cousin Berengaria." "Aunt Berengaria," reproved Miss Plantagenet, giving him her hand. "I don't like league-long names. Come and sit down and tell me all about yourself." "Miss Plantagenet," said Durham, hastily. "Lord Conniston and I have met to talk of Bernard." "Then I'll form a third," said the old lady, sitting. "Dick--I shall call you Dick," she interpolated--"you are Bernard's friend, as his letter to Alice was all about you. Are you going to desert him?" "No," said Conniston, taking her entirely into his confidence. "I have chucked the service to see him through his trouble." "Chucked what service?" "The army. I was going to the front. But I'll stop till I prove the innocence of Bernard, Aunt Berengaria." "You don't know that he is alive, Conniston," said the lawyer. "Ah, but I do," replied Dick. "Here's a letter from Bernard. He is safe and sound hiding at Cove Castle."