Lambert asked himself this question as soon as he was safe in his studio, and he found it a difficult one to answer.  It was true that what he had said to Agnes, and what Agnes had said to him, was perfectly honest and extremely honorable, considering the state of their feelings.  But the conversation had been overheard by an unscrupulous woman, whose jealousy would probably twist innocence into guilt.  It was certain that she would go to Pine and give him a garbled version of what had taken place, in which case the danger was great, both to himself and to Agnes.  Lambert had spoken bravely enough to the marplot, knowing that he had done no wrong, but now he was by no means sure that he had acted rightly.  Perhaps it would have been better to temporize but that would have meant a surrender young to Chaldea’s unmaidenly wooing.  And, as the man had not a spark of love for her in a heart given entirely to another woman, he was unwilling even to feign playing the part of a lover.

On reflection he still held to his resolution to go to London, thinking that it would be best for him to be out of reach of Agnes while Pine was in the neighborhood.  The news that the millionaire was a gypsy had astonished him at first; but now that he considered the man’s dark coloring and un-English looks, he quite believed that what Chaldea said was true.  And he could understand also that Pine—­or Hearne, since that was his true name—­would occasionally wish to breathe the free air of heath and road since he had been cradled under a tent, and must at times feel strongly the longing for the old lawless life.  But why should he revert to his beginnings so near to his brother-in-law’s house, where his wife was staying?  “Unless he came to keep an eye on her,” murmured Lambert, and unconsciously hit on the very reason of the pseudo-gypsy’s presence at Garvington.

After all, it would be best to go to London for a time to wait until he saw what Chaldea would do.  Then he could meet Pine and have an understanding with him.  The very fact that Pine was a Romany, and was on his native heath, appealed to Lambert as a reason why he should not seek out the man immediately, as he almost felt inclined to do, in order to forestall Chaldea’s story.  As Hearne, the millionaire’s wild instincts would be uppermost, and he would probably not listen to reason, whereas if the meeting took place in London, Pine would resume to a certain extent his veneer of civilization and would be more willing to do justice.

“Yes,” decided Lambert, rising and stretching himself.  “I shall go to London and wait to turn over matters in my own mind.  I shall say nothing to Agnes until I know what is best to be done about Chaldea.  Meanwhile, I shall see the girl and get her to hold her tongue for a time—­Damn!” He frowned.  “It’s making the best of a dangerous situation, but I don’t see my way to a proper adjustment yet.  The most necessary thing is to gain time.”