Poor Bobo was quite unable to stand out against a stronger nature. "Oh, since you put it that way, I have seen her." "Where?" "In the Park. On a bench near that fountain down the steps at the end of the Mall. We used to sit there sometimes in the sun. And I just went back on a chance--well you know!" "Sure, I know how you feel," said Jack more sympathetically. "I'm sorry to see so much good feeling wasted." "It's not wasted. While I was sitting there a woman came by heavily veiled. I didn't know her at first, but when she saw me she gave a little cry. It was forced from her. She didn't mean to let me recognize her. She tried to get away, but I stopped her." Jack concealed his smile. "It was Miriam," Bobo went on. "And what do you think! Just like me she had been attracted to the spot where we had been happy! Wasn't that wonderful!" "Very wonderful!" said Jack drily. "She was so overcome she had to sit down for a moment," Bobo continued. "When I reproached her for not sending me word, she said she had been so shocked at the discovery of Mrs. Cleaver's wickedness, she hadn't known what she was doing. Her one idea was to escape from that woman's house. Why didn't you tell me what she had been up to?" "Never mind that now. Go on with your story." "When she collected her wits, she said she didn't think it was any use her writing to me, because she was sure I would think she was mixed up in it too." "Well that was pretty near the truth," Jack put in. "She said she was sure you would never let such a chance go by of turning me against her." "But I didn't use it against her, did I?" "Oh, I expect you had your own reasons. I didn't know what Miriam was talking about. I begged her to tell me what Mrs. Cleaver had been up to, but she refused to believe that I had not been told. Even when I had convinced her I knew nothing she wouldn't tell me because she didn't want to betray her cousin. Bad as she was, she was still her cousin, Miriam said." "Bosh!" said Jack scornfully. "No more her cousin than you are!" "Oh, you never believe anything Miriam says," complained Bobo. "Let that go for the present. What else happened?" "Nothing much. She was relieved to find out that I didn't think wrong of her. We talked--but we didn't say much." Bobo got red. "Hang it all, I don't have to tell you everything I say to a girl, do I?" "No," said Jack grinning. "In the end I promised her I wouldn't tell you I'd seen her. That's all." "And you're going to see her again, to-night?" "Y-yes." "Where?" "She's stopping temporarily at the Bienvenu." "Now let's try and let a little light on this subject," said Jack. "She's always saying that I'm trying to turn you against her, isn't she?" "Yes, and it's true." "What reason does she give for my actions?" "Why--I don't know." "Think a little. Her idea is that I am afraid of her influence over you, because it may threaten mine, isn't it?" "Well--yes."