“Did she tell you so?” Mordaunt sounded grim.

Noel turned to look at him.  “No.  She said you hadn’t.  But she always tells a cram when it suits her purpose.  I knew you had all the same.”

Mordaunt was silent.

“She’s horribly down in the mouth,” Noel proceeded.  “She never used to be before she married you.  It’s a pretty beastly thing to have to say, but someone ought to say it, and if I don’t no one else will.”

“Go on,” said Mordaunt.  “Your sense of duty does you credit.”

“Don’t be a beast!  It isn’t duty at all.  I’m simply pointing out the obvious.  I should think you could see it for yourself, can’t you?”

Mordaunt brushed his hair in silence.

“It’s got to stop anyhow,” Noel went on with determination.  “She’s not to be bullied.  It’s worse than shabby,—­it—­it’s damned mean to—­to treat her as if—­as if—­” He became suddenly agitated and lost the thread of his discourse.

Mordaunt had laid down his brushes to listen.  His eyes were gravely attentive.  They held no indignation.  “Go on,” he said again.  “You are quite right to use strong language if you consider the occasion requires it.”

But Noel’s flow of language had failed him.  He sprang suddenly at his brother-in-law, and caught him by the shoulders.  “Oh, do stop it, old chap!” he urged, with husky vehemence.  “We all of us rely on you.  And if you fail us—­can’t you see we’re done for?”

Mordaunt looked down at him with a faint smile.  “Perhaps I had better tell you what has happened,” he said.  “The trouble at the present moment is that Bertrand has robbed me, and has left in consequence.”

“Great Scotland!” ejaculated Noel.  “How much did he take?”

“Five hundred pounds.  That’s a detail of small consequence.”  Mordaunt spoke with grim precision.  “It has upset Chris—­quite naturally.  But even you can hardly hold me responsible for that.”

“I should think not!  I say, I’m sorry I spoke.”  Impetuously Noel hugged him to obliterate the effect of his words.  “I’m a silly ass.  You mustn’t mind me.  Do you know, I always thought he would somehow, though Chris was so keen on him.”

“I was keen on him too,” Mordaunt observed, without much humour.

“I’m awfully sorry, old chap.  It’s a bit of a facer for you.  But, you know, you can’t trust foreigners.  It doesn’t do.  There was that chap at Valpre.  He simply bewitched Chris. She never would hear a word against him, but I’m sure he was a bounder.  I’ve often thought since that he probably manoeuvred that cave business.  They’re such a wily lot, these Frenchies.”

“What cave business?” There was a hint of sharpness in Mordaunt’s voice; his brows were drawn.

Noel looked surprised.  “Why, the time they got hung up by the tide all night.  Mean to say you never heard of it?  Oh, my eye!” he broke off blankly.  “Then I’ve let the cat out of the bag!”