Send him away, Alan, for I am still so weak and I cannot bear the sight
of his face. If you knew everything, you would understand."

Alan turned on Aylward and in a cold, quiet voice asked him what he had
to say to this story.

"I have to say, Major Vernon, that it is a clever mixture of truth
and falsehood. It is true that your cousin, Champers-Haswell, has been
proved guilty of some very shameful conduct. For instance it appears
that he did forge, or rather cause to be forged that Firman from
the Sultan, although I knew nothing of this until it was publicly
repudiated. It is also true that fearing exposure he entirely lost his
head and spent not only his own great fortune but that of Miss Champers
also, in trying to support Sahara shares. I admit also that I sold many
hundreds of thousands of those shares in the ordinary way, having made
up my mind to retire from business when I was raised to the peerage.
I admit further, what you knew before, that I was attached to Miss
Champers and wished to marry her. Why should I not, especially as I had
a good deal to offer to a lady who has been proved to be almost without
fortune?

"For the rest she set out secretly on this mad journey to Africa,
whither both my duty as her trustee and my affection prompted me to
follow her. I found her here recovering from an illness, and since she
has dwelt upon the point, in self-defence I must tell you that
whatever has taken place between us, has been with her full consent and
encouragement. Of course I allude only to those affectionate amenities
which are common between people who purpose to marry as soon as
opportunity may offer."