Glad to stand up and move, Dyce did her bidding.  Only a few moments elapsed before Constance Bride and May Tomalin entered the room.

“Constance, come here,” said Lady Ogram.  “You”—­she glared at May—­“stand where I can have a good view of you.”

Lashmar had welcomed their entrance with a smile.  The voice and manner of the autocrat slightly perturbed him, but he made allowances for her brusque way, and continued to smile at May, who looked pale and frightened.

“Constance, did you know or did you not, that these two had a meeting this morning in the park before Mr. Lashmar came to see you?”

“No, I knew nothing of that,” answered Miss Bride, coldly.

“And did you know that they had met before, at the same place and time, and that they came from town together by the same train, and that there was a regular understanding between them to deceive you and me?”

“I knew nothing of all this.”

“Look at her!” exclaimed Lady Ogram, pointing at the terrified girl.  “This is her gratitude; this is her honesty.  She has lied to me in every word she spoke!  Lord Dymchurch offered her marriage, and she tried to make me believe that he hadn’t done so at all, that he was a dishonourable shuffler—­”

“Aunt!” cried May, stepping hurriedly forward.  “He did not offer me marriage!  I’ll tell you everything.  Lord Dymchurch saw me by chance this morning—­Mr. Lashmar and me—­saw us together in the park; and he understood, and spoke to me about it, and said that the only thing he could do was to tell you I had refused him—­”

“Oh, that’s it, is it?” broke in the hoarse voice, all but inarticulate with fury.  “Then he too is a liar; that makes one more.”

Lashmar stood in bewilderment.  He caught May’s eye, and saw that he had nothing but hostility to expect from her.

“There is the greatest of all!” cried the girl, with violent gesture.  “He has told you all about me, but has he told you all about himself?”

“Lady Ogram,” said Dyce, in a tone of offended dignity, “you should remember by what means you obtained my confidence.  You told me that Miss Tomalin had already confessed everything to you.  I naturally believed you incapable of falsehood—­”

“Being yourself such a man of honour!” Lady Ogram interrupted, with savage scorn.  “Constance, you are the only one who has not told me lies, and you have been shamefully treated—­”

“You think she has told you no lies?” interrupted May, her voice at the high pitch of exasperation.  “Wait a moment.  This man has told you that he came down from London in the train with me; but did he tell you what he talked about?  The first thing he disclosed to me was that the engagement between him and Miss Bride was a mere pretence.  Finding you wished them to marry, they took counsel together, and plotted to keep you in good humour by pretending to be engaged.  This he told me himself.”