“Why cannot we expose him?”

“Where is the proof?  He will deny it.”

She paused.

“We can at least tell his family.  You will draw up the informations?”

“I will do so.”

“And send them to Sir Thomas and Mr. Bassett?”

“I will do so.”

“That may perhaps prevent his inheritance coming to him as quickly as he thinks.”

The lawyer’s eyes gleamed.

“And what of Mrs. Thomas, mistress?”

Marjorie lifted her eyes.

“I do not think a great deal of Mrs. Thomas,” she said.  “She is honest,
I think; but she could not be trusted with a secret.  But I will tell
Mistress Babington, and I will warn what priests I can.”

“And if it leaks out?”

“It must leak out.”

“And yourself?  Can you meet Mr. Thomas again just now?  He will be out in three days.”

Marjorie drew a long breath.

“No, sir; I cannot meet him.  I should betray what I felt.  I shall make excuses to Mrs. Thomas, and go home to-morrow.”

PART III

CHAPTER I

I

The “Red Bull” in Cheapside was all alight; a party had arrived there from the coast not an hour ago, and the rooms that had been bespoken by courier occupied the greater part of the second floor; the rest of the house was already filled by another large company, spoken for by Mr. Babington, although he himself was not one of them.  And it seemed to the shrewd landlord that these two parties were not wholly unknown to one another, although, as a discreet man, he said nothing.

The latest arrived party was plainly come from the coast.  They had arrived a little after sunset on this stormy August day, splashed to the shoulders by the summer-mud, and drenched to the skin by the heavy thunder-showers.  Their baggage had a battered and sea-going air about it, and the landlord thought he would not be far away if he conjectured Rheims as their starting-point; there were three gentlemen in the party, and four servants apparently; but he knew better than to ask questions or to overhear what seemed rather over-familiar conversation between the men and their masters.  There was only one, however, whom he remembered to have lodged before, over five years ago.  The name of this one was Mr. Alban.  But all this was not his business.  His duty was to be hearty and deferential and entirely stupid; and certainly this course of behaviour brought him a quantity of guests.

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