“I have only thought of Giuseppe Doria in connection with myself, never in connection with Uncle Bendigo and Uncle Albert.  Uncle Bendigo died—­if he is dead—­before I consented to marry Doria—­before he asked me to do so.  But keep my mistake from my uncle.  I don’t want him to know I’m miserable.”

“You must decide where to put your trust, my dear,” answered Mr. Ganns.  “Otherwise you may find yourself on dangerous ground.”

She weighed her answer.

“You are thinking of something,” she said.

“Naturally.  What you have told me as to your relations with your Italian husband offers considerable food for thought.  But consider very carefully.  You cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.  How many a bad man and, for that matter, how many an innocent man, has come to grief in the attempt.  Tell me this.  Does Giuseppe know that you no longer love him?”

She shook her head.

“I have hid it.  The time has not come to let him know that.  He would be revenged, and God knows what form his revenge might take.  Till I have escaped from him, he must not dream that I have changed.”

“That’s your feeling?  Well, the questions are two.  Do you know enough about him to assist and justify your escape and, if you do, are you prepared to confide your knowledge to me?”

“I do not know enough,” she answered.  “He is a very clever man under his light-hearted and easy-going manners.  He is, I believe, faithful to me, and he takes care never to be unkind in the presence or hearing of a third person.  But this I think:  that he knows very well what you’ve just told me—­that all the Redmayne money must sooner or later be mine.”

“And yet he behaves to you as though he were a devil?  That’s not very clever of him.”

“I can’t explain.  Perhaps I have said too much.  His cruelty is very subtle.  Italian husbands,—­”

“I know all about Italian husbands.  We’ll talk over this again when you have had time to think a little.  There’s a reason for your hate and distrust of him, no doubt.  You would not pretend such emotions.  He’s faithful, you say, so perhaps that reason is linked with knowledge you do not care to impart to me—­or anybody?  Perhaps it embraces the mystery man we want to catch—­Robert Redmayne?  Does Doria know more about him than you or I do!  And you have found it out?  There may be quite a number of things that make you hate Doria.  So think it over and consider if to hear any of them would help me.”

Jenny looked at Peter with profound interest.

“You are a very wonderful man, Mr. Ganns.”