on mere intuition. Personally, and even in a court of law--
though Heaven forbid it ever reaches that stage--personally, I
could swear that the fellow that stood abusing me there, in that
revolting fashion, was not Lawford. It would be easier even to
believe in him, if there were not that--that glaze, that shocking
simulation of the man himself, the very man. But then, I am a
sceptic; I own it. And 'pon my word, Mrs Lawford, there's plenty
of room for sceptics in a world like this.'

'Very well,' said Mr Bethany crisply, 'that's settled, then. With
your permission, my dear,' he added, turning untarnishably clear
childlike eyes on Sheila, 'I will take all risks--even to the
foot of the gibbet: accessory, Danton, AFTER the fact.' And so
direct and cloudless was his gaze that Sheila tried in vain to
evade it and to catch a glimpse of Danton's small agate-like
eyes, now completely under mastery, and awaiting confidently the
meeting with her own.

'Of course,' she said, 'I am entirely in your hands, dear Mr
Bethany.'



CHAPTER ELEVEN

Lawford slept far into the cloudy Monday morning, to wake steeped
in sleep, lethargic, and fretfully haunted by inconclusive
remembrances of the night before. When Sheila, with obvious and
capacious composure, brought him his breakfast tray, he watched
her face for some time without speaking.