Kennedy’s tactful manner seemed to reassure both the father and the mother, who exchanged another glance.

“Although we have said no to the reporters,” Mrs. Gilbert replied bravely in answer to the nod of approval from her husband, and much as if she herself were making a confession for them both, “I fear that Georgette had had a love affair.  No doubt you have heard hints of Dudley Lawton’s name in connection with the case?  I can’t imagine how they could have leaked out, for I should have said that that old affair had long since been forgotten even by the society gossips.  The fact is that shortly after Georgette ’came out,’ Dudley Lawton, who is quite on the road to becoming one of the rather notorious members of the younger set, began to pay her marked attentions.  He is a fascinating, romantic sort of fellow, one that, I imagine, possesses much attraction for a girl who has been brought up as simply as Georgette was, and who has absorbed a surreptitious diet of modern literature such as we now know Georgette did.  I suppose you have seen portraits of Georgette in the newspapers and know what a dreamy and artistic nature her face indicates?”

Kennedy nodded.  It is, of course, one of the cardinal tenets of journalism that all women are beautiful, but even the coarse screen of the ordinary newspaper half-tone had not been able to conceal the rather exceptional beauty of Miss Georgette Gilbert.  If it had, all the shortcomings of the newspaper photographic art would have been quickly glossed over by the almost ardent descriptions by those ladies of the press who come along about the second day after an event of this kind with signed articles analysing the character and motives, the life and gowns of the latest actors in the front-page stories.

“Naturally both my husband and myself opposed his attentions from the first.  It was a hard struggle, for Georgette, of course, assumed the much-injured air of some of the heroines of her favourite novels.  But I, at least, believed that we had won and that Georgette finally was brought to respect and, I hoped, understand our wishes in the matter.  I believe so yet.  Mr. Gilbert in a roundabout way came to an understanding with old Mr. Dudley Lawton, who possesses a great influence over his son, and—­well, Dudley Lawton seemed to have passed out of Georgette’s life.  I believed so then, at least, and I see no reason for not believing so yet.  I feel that you ought to know this, but really I don’t think it is right to say that Georgette had a love affair.  I should rather say that she had had a love affair, but that it had been forgotten, perhaps a year ago.”

Mrs. Gilbert paused again, and it was evident that though she was concealing nothing she was measuring her words carefully in order not to give a false impression.

“What does Dudley Lawton say about the newspapers bringing his name into the case?” asked Kennedy, addressing Mr. Gilbert.