‘But, Nevil, I repeat, if Miss Halkett should hear . . . ?’

‘She knows by this time.’

‘At present she is ignorant of it.’

‘And what is Miss Halkett to me?’

’More than you imagined in that struggle you underwent, I think, Nevil.  Oh! if only to save her from Captain Baskelett!  He gained your uncle’s consent when they were at the Castle, to support him in proposing for her.  He is persistent.  Women have been snared without loving.  She is a great heiress.  Reflect on his use of her wealth.  You respect her, if you have no warmer feeling.  Let me assure you that the husband of Cecilia, if he is of Romfrey blood, has the fairest chance of the estates.  That man will employ every weapon.  He will soon be here bowing to me to turn me to his purposes.’

‘Cecilia can see through Baskelett,’ said Beauchamp.

’Single-mindedly selfish men may be seen through and through, and still be dangerous, Nevil.  The supposition is, that we know the worst of them.  He carries a story to poison her mind.  She could resist it, if you and she were in full confidence together.  If she did not love you, she could resist it.  She does, and for some strange reason beyond my capacity to fathom, you have not come to an understanding.  Sanction my speaking to her, just to put her on her guard, privately:  not to injure that poor lady, but to explain.  Shall she not know the truth?  I need say but very little.  Indeed, all I can say is, that finding the marquise in London one evening, you telegraphed for me to attend on her, and I joined you.  You shake your head.  But surely it is due to Miss Halkett.  She should be protected from what will certainly wound her deeply.  Her father is afraid of you, on the score of your theories.  I foresee it:  he will hear the scandal:  he will imagine you as bad in morals as in politics.  And you have lost your friend in Lord Romfrey—­though he shall not be your enemy.  Colonel Halkett and Cecilia called on us at Steynham.  She was looking beautiful; a trifle melancholy.  The talk was of your—­that—­I do not like it, but you hold those opinions—­the Republicanism.  She had read your published letters.  She spoke to me of your sincerity.  Colonel Halkett of course was vexed.

It is the same with all your friends.  She, however, by her tone, led me to think that she sees you as you are, more than in what you do.  They are now in Wales.  They will be in town after Easter.  Then you must expect that her feeling for you will be tried, unless but you will!  You will let me speak to her, Nevil.  My position allows me certain liberties I was previously debarred from.  You have not been so very tender to your Cecilia that you can afford to give her fresh reasons for sorrowful perplexity.  And why should you stand to be blackened by scandalmongers when a few words of mine will prove that instead of weak you have been strong, instead of libertine blameless?  I am not using fine phrases:  I would not.  I would be as thoughtful of you as if you were present.  And for her sake, I repeat, the truth should be told to her.  I have a lock of her hair.’