He broke off, observed the listener’s face, and added with an insinuating smile: 

“There was the other course—­what is called the unselfish, the heroic.  Unfortunately, heroism of that kind is only another name for deliberate falsehood, in word and deed, and I confess I hadn’t the courage for it.  Unselfishness which means calculated deception seems to me by no means admirable.  It was not an easy thing to go to Constance, and tell her what I had to tell; but I know that she herself would much prefer it to the sham-noble alternative.  And I am equally sure, Lady Ogram, what your own view will be of the choice that lay before me.”

The listener made no sort of response to this appeal.  “And what had Constance to say to you?” she asked.  Lashmar hesitated, his embarrassment half genuine, half feigned.

“Here,” he replied, in a thoughtfully suspended voice, “I find myself on very delicate ground.  I hardly feel that I should be justified in repeating what passed between us.  I hoped you had already heard it.  Was it not from Constance that you learnt—?”

“Don’t begin to question me,” broke in Lady Ogram, with sudden severity.  “What I know, and how I know it, is none of your business.  You’ll have the goodness to tell me whatever I ask you.”

Dyce made a gesture of deprecating frankness.

“Personally,” he said in a low voice, “I admit your right to be kept fully informed of all that comes to pass in this connection.  Will it be enough if I say that Constance accepted my view of what had happened?”

“Did you tell her everything that had happened?” asked Lady Ogram, looking him in the eyes.

“Not in detail,” Dyce replied, rather nervously, for he could not with certainty interpret that stern look.  “You will understand that—­that I was not at liberty—­that I had to respect—­”

He came near to losing himself between the conflicting suggestions of prudence and hopefulness.  At the sight of his confusion, Lady Ogram smiled grimly.

“You mean,” she said, in a voice which seemed to croak indulgence, “that you had no right to tell Constance anything about Miss Tomalin?”

Lashmar’s courage revived.  He suspected that the old autocrat knew everything, that both girls had already gone through the ordeal of a private interview with her, and had yielded up their secrets.  If so, plainly the worst was over, and nothing would now serve but sincerity.

“That is what I mean,” he answered, quietly and respectfully, admiring his own dignity as he spoke.

“We are beginning to understand each other,” said Lady Ogram, the grim smile still on her face.  “I don’t mind telling you, now, that I have spoken both with Constance and with May.”

Lashmar manifested his relief.  He moved into an easier posture; his countenance brightened; he said within himself that destiny was hearing him on to glorious things.