London alone."

"It is a terrible position," said the lawyer; "the only thing is to
clear him as much as we can. The moment I read this I wrote an answer
and sent it to the 'Times' to the effect that Mr. Carruthers had gone
abroad."

A slight frown came over the delicate face.

"I implored Mr. Carruthers to write an indignant denial, and to let me
go to Paris to post it, but he would not hear of such a thing; the very
idea seemed offensive to him, I hope, Lady Carruthers, to induce you to
write such a letter."

"What kind of a letter?" she asked.

"One to the editor of the 'Times' denying the report, and saying that
your son has gone abroad."

"But that would be grossly untrue," she said.

"Yes, yes! I know that, still if we can save him, we should."

"I will try any honorable means you choose to suggest," she replied;
"but not even to save my son from death could I consent to write or
publish a lie."

"Of course you know best, Lady Carruthers," said the lawyer, with a
shrug of the shoulders. "Words are but words, and very few of them might
have saved your son from public shame."