“You think she has all along been unhappy?”

“No, nothing of the kind.  But when we have been speaking of the position of women—­that kind of thing—­I have noticed something strange—­an anxiety.  I was only going to say that, after having succeeded thus far, it seems a pity to lose everything when a little prudence.”

She waved her hand.

“Do you believe,” Denzil asked, “that his story of finding her by mere chance is true?”

“Lilian tells me that only your most intimate friend shared the secret.”

“Glazzard?  Of course he has nothing to do with it.  But some one else may have”——­

He walked apart, brooding.  Mrs. Wade seated herself, and became thoughtful.

“What sort of a fellow is this?” Quarrier asked, of a sudden.

“It depends who is dealing with him,” she answered, meeting his look with eyes full of sympathetic expression.  “I read him at once, and managed him.  He is too weak for serious villainy.  He doesn’t seem to have thought of extorting money from you.  Lilian was his only object.  He would have taken her away by force.”

“Come—­we mustn’t lose time.”

“Mr. Quarrier, do be calm, and let us talk before we go.  She is quite safe.  And as for Northway, I am perfectly sure that you can keep him silent.”

“You think it possible?”

“If you will consent to follow in the path I have prepared.  I have taken no small trouble.”

She looked up at him and smiled.

“You have behaved like a true friend, Mrs. Wade—­it is no more than I should have expected of you.  But what have you planned?  Think how this secret has already spread—­what hope is there of finally hushing it up?  Glazzard and you would never breathe a syllable; but how, short of manslaughter, could I assure the silence of a blackguard like this Northway?  If I let him blackmail me, I am done for:  I should be like the fools in plays and novels, throwing half my possessions away, and all in vain.”

“Pray remember,” urged the other, “that this Northway is by no means the rascal of melodrama.  He has just enough brains to make him conceited, and is at the disposal of any one who plays upon his conceit.  With much trouble I induced him to regard you as a source of profit.”  She broke off and seemed to falter.  “I think you won’t find fault with me, Mr. Quarrier, for trying to do this?”

“You did it ill the friendliest spirit.”

“And not indiscreetly, I hope.”  She looked at him for a moment, and continued:  “He is bribable, but you must go to work carefully.  For instance, I think if you offered to give him a good start in a commercial career—­by your personal recommendation, I mean—­that would have more effect than an offer of money.  And then, again, in this way you guard yourself against the perils of which you were speaking.  Place him well, so that he considers himself a respectable, responsible man, and for his own sake he won’t torment you.  Couldn’t you send him to some one over in Sweden—­some house of business?”