“Yes.  He has found evidence among his brother’s correspondence of the hold he had over me and of his persecution.  That would afford a sufficient motive for my killing him; and how could I prove that I did not strike the blow?”

“It might be difficult,” Gifford answered thoughtfully.  “But I may be able to do it.  Of course he knows you to be an heiress.”

“I am sure of that from something he once let slip.  It has been my inheritance which has brought all this trouble upon me, at any rate its persistency.”

“Yes.  This man must be something of an adventurer, as his brother was.  We shall see,” Gifford said with a grim touch.  “Now, I must not keep you any longer.  I am so grateful for the confidence you have given me.  May I call later on and tell you the result?”

Her eyes were on him in an almost piteous searching for hope in his resolute face.  “Of course,” she responded.  “I shall be so terribly anxious to know.”

Chivalrously avoiding any suggestion of tenderness, he shook hands and went off towards the town.

CHAPTER XXVI

ISSUE JOINED

Punctually at the appointed time Gervase Henshaw was shown into Gifford’s room.  Kelson had received from his friend a hint of what was afoot and had naturally offered his services to back Gifford up, but they were refused.

“It is very kind of you, Harry,” Gifford had said, “and just what one would have expected from you.  But, as you shall hear later, this is not a business in which you or any one could usefully intervene.  In fact it would be dangerous for me, considering the man I am dealing with, to say what I have to say before a third person.”

So Kelson went off to spend the afternoon at the Tredworths’.

When Henshaw came in his expression bore no indication of the terms on which he and Gifford had lately parted.  The keen face was unruffled and almost genial; but Gifford was not the man to be deceived by that outward seeming.  Henshaw bowed and took the chair the other indicated.  There was a short pause as though each waited for the other to begin.  In the end it was Gifford who spoke first.

“I should like to come to an understanding with you, Mr. Henshaw, with regard to a very serious annoyance, not to say persecution, to which Miss Morriston has been subjected at your hands.”  Henshaw drew back his thin lips in a smile.  “I have to tell you,” Gifford continued, “once and for all that it must cease.”

“Miss Morriston authorizes you to tell me that?” The question was put with something like a sneer.

“I should hope it requires no authority,” Gifford retorted.  “Having cognizance of what has been going on, it is my plain duty—­”

“Why yours?” Henshaw interrupted coolly.

“For a very good reason,” Gifford replied; “one which I may have to tell you presently.”