“When did she get married?”

“Last January, at Naples, very suddenly, and without the knowledge of any of her relatives.”

“She had been living at Beechcroft nearly a year, then?”

“Yes, she went South in the winter.  The reason she gave was that the Hall would be depressing on the anniversary of her brother’s death.  She had become most popular in the district.  Helen is very fond of her, and was quite shocked to hear of her marriage.  The local people do not like Signor Capella.”

“Why?”

“It is difficult to give a reason.  Miss Layton does not indulge in details, but that is the impression I gather from her letters.”

Hume paused, and Brett shot a quick glance at him.

“Finish what you were going to say,” he said.

“Only this—­Helen and I have mutually released each other from our engagement, and in the same breath have refused to be released.  That is, if you understand—­”

The barrister nodded.

“The result is that we are both thoroughly miserable.  Our respective fathers do not like the idea of our marriage under the circumstances.  We are simply drifting in the feeble hope that some day a kindly Providence will dissipate the cloud that hangs over me.  Ah, Mr. Brett, I am a rich man.  Command the limits of my fortune, but clear me.  Prove to Helen that her faith in my innocence is justified.”

“For goodness’ sake light another cigarette,” snapped the barrister.  “You have interfered with my line of thought.  It is all wriggly.”

Quite a minute elapsed before he began again.

“What caused the trouble at Mrs. Eastham’s ball?”

“I think I can explain that.  It seems that Alan’s father told him to get married—­”

“Told him!”

“Well, left instructions.”

“How?”

“I do not know.  I only gathered as much from my cousin’s remarks.  Well, it was not until his final home-coming that he realised what a beautiful woman the jolly little girl he knew as a boy had developed into.  She was just the kind of wife he wanted, and I fancy he imagined I had stolen a march on him.  But he was a thoroughly straightforward, manly fellow, and something very much out of the common must have upset him before he vented his anger on me and Helen.”

“Have you any notion—­”

“Not the least.  Pardon me.  I suppose you were going to ask if I guessed the cause?”

“Yes.”

“It is quite unfathomable.  We parted the best of friends in London, although he knew all about the engagement.  We met again at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and he was very short with me.  I can only vaguely assume that some feeling of resentment had meanwhile been working up in him, and it found expression during his chat with Helen in the conservatory.”

“Did you use threats to him during the subsequent wrangle?”

“Threats!  Good gracious, no.  I was angry with him for spoiling Miss Layton’s enjoyment.  I called him an ass, and said that he had better have remained away another year than come back and make mischief.  That is all.  Mrs. Eastham was far more outspoken.”