“Yes.  It must have been very painful to Robert, more painful than we imagine.  It would come home to him later with stunning force—­all that it implied, I mean.  At the time Robert did not foresee all the consequences likely to ensue from it.  It was likely to affect his claim for the title, because he was bound to make it known.  When he came to think it over he must have realized that it would greatly prejudice his claim.  A body like the House of Lords would do their utmost to avoid bestowing an ancient name on a man, who, by his own showing, lived with a married woman for twenty-five years, and had an illegitimate daughter by her.  These are painful things to speak of, but they were bound to come out.  My own feeling is that Robert had a bitter awakening to these facts when it was too late—­when he had made the disclosure.  And he may have felt remorse—­”

“Remorse for what?”

“Remorse for giving the secret away and branding his daughter as illegitimate on the day that her mother was buried.  It has an ugly look, Constance, there’s no getting away from that.”

He lapsed into silence, and awaited the effect of his words.  Mrs. Pendleton pondered over them for some moments in manifest perturbation.  There was sufficient resemblance between Austin’s conclusions and the thoughts which had impelled her nocturnal visit to Flint House, to sway her mind like a pendulum towards Austin’s view.  But that only lasted for a moment.  Then she thrust the thought desperately from her.

“No, no; I cannot—­I will not believe it!” she cried in an agitated voice.  “All this must have been in Robert’s mind beforehand.  His letters to me about Sisily indicated that there were reasons why he wished me to take charge of her.  Robert had weighed the consequences of this disclosure, Austin—­I feel sure of that.  He was a man who knew his own mind.  How carefully he outlined his plans to us yesterday!  He was to appear before the Investigations Committee next week to give evidence in support of his claim to the title.  And he told me that he was purchasing a portion of the family estate at Great Missenden, and intended to live there.  Is it logical to suppose that he would terminate all these plans and ambitions by destroying himself?  I, for one, will never believe it.  I have my own thoughts and suspicions—­”

He turned a sudden searching glance on her.  “Suspicions of whom?”

“I took a dislike to that terrible man-servant of Robert’s from the moment I saw him,” said Mrs. Pendleton, setting her chin firmly.

This feminine flight was too swift for Austin Turold to follow.

“What has that to do with what we are talking about?” he demanded.

“When we reached the door last night it was Thalassa who let us in, with his hat and coat on, ready to go out.  There was something strange and furtive about his manner, too, for I never took my eyes off him, and I’m sure he had something on his mind.  I’m quite convinced it was he who was listening at the door yesterday afternoon.  And he’s got a wicked and crafty face.”