on your part to avoid contradicting her testimonies, with your own.  But you are not clever enough, Louis, to carry out that deceit to the end.  And now that you have admitted that you saw Miss Lloyd there, you can best help her cause, and best help me to help her cause, by telling me all about it.  For rest assured, Louis, that I am quite as anxious to prove Miss Lloyd’s innocence as you can possibly be, and the only way to accomplish that end, is to learn as much of the truth as I possibly can.  Now, tell me what she was doing.”

“Only talking to her uncle, sir.”  Louis had the air of a defeated man.  He had tried to shield Miss Lloyd’s name and had failed.  Now he spoke sullenly, and as if his whole cause were lost.

“And Mr. Crawford was talking to her?”

“Yes, sir.”

“He was not writing, then?”

“No, sir.”

“Did they seem to be having an amicable conversation?”

Louis hesitated, and his hesitation was sufficient answer.

“Never mind,” I said, “you need not tell me more.  In fact, I would prefer to get the rest of the story from Miss Lloyd, herself.”

Louis looked startled.  “Don’t tell Miss Lloyd I told you this,” he begged; “I have try very hard not to tell you.”

“I know you tried hard, Louis, not to tell me, and it was not your fault that I wrung the truth from you.  I will not tell Miss Lloyd that you told me, unless it should become necessary, and I do not think it will.  Go away now, Louis, and do not discuss this matter with anybody at all.  And, also, do not think for a moment that you have been disloyal in telling me that you saw Miss Lloyd.  As I say, you couldn’t help it.  I should simply have kept at you until I made you tell, so you need not blame yourself in the matter at all.”

Louis went away, and though I could see that he believed what I said, he had a dejected air, and I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the man who had so inadvertently given me the knowledge that must be used against the beautiful girl who had herself given untrue testimony.

XIII

MISS LLOYD’S CONFIDENCE

After Louis left me, I felt as if a dead weight had fallen on my heart.  Florence Lloyd had gone down to her uncle’s office late that night, and yet at the inquest she had testified that she had not done so.  And even to me, when talking quietly and alone, she had repeated her false assertion.  This much I knew, but why she had done if, I did not know.  Not until I was forced to do so, would I believe that even her falsehood in the matter meant that she herself was guilty.  There must be some other reason for her mendacity.

Well, I would find out this reason, and if it were not a creditable one to her, I would still endeavor to do all I could for her.  I longed to see her, and try if perhaps kind and gentle urging might not elicit the truth.  But she had left me with such an air of haughty disdain, I hesitated to send for her again just now.  And as it was nearly dinner time, I resolved to go back to my hotel.