an intimation that he had now quite finished, the old diplomatist
carefully made a few notes in his pocket-book.

"Your narrative, my dear Adam, is altogether admirable. I think I may
now take it that we are both well versed in the actual facts, and that
our conference had better take the shape of a mutual exchange of ideas.
Let us both ask questions as they may arise; and I do not doubt that we
shall arrive at some enlightening conclusions."

"Will you kindly begin, sir? I do not doubt that, with your longer
experience, you will be able to dissipate some of the fog which envelops
certain of the things which we have to consider."

"I hope so, my dear boy. For a beginning, then, let me say that Lady
Arabella's letter makes clear some things which she intended--and also
some things which she did not intend. But, before I begin to draw
deductions, let me ask you a few questions. Adam, are you heart-whole,
quite heart-whole, in the matter of Lady Arabella?"

His companion answered at once, each looking the other straight in the
eyes during question and answer.

"Lady Arabella, sir, is a charming woman, and I should have deemed it a
privilege to meet her--to talk to her--even--since I am in the
confessional--to flirt a little with her. But if you mean to ask if my
affections are in any way engaged, I can emphatically answer 'No!'--as
indeed you will understand when presently I give you the reason. Apart
from that, there are the unpleasant details we discussed the other day."

"Could you--would you mind giving me the reason now? It will help us to