It was with the greatest difficulty that Cleggett repressed a
start. Another man might have shown the shock he felt. But
Cleggett had the iron nerve of a Bismarck and the fine manner of
a Richelieu. He did not even permit his eyes to wander towards
the box in question. He merely sat and waited.

Lady Agatha, having brought herself to the point of revelation,
seemed to find a difficulty in proceeding. Cleggett, mutely
asking permission, lighted a cigarette.

"Oh--if you will!" said Lady Agatha, extending her hand towards
the case. He passed it over, and when she had chosen one of the
little rolls and lighted it she said:

"Mr. Cleggett, have you ever lived in England?"

"I have never even visited England."

"I wish you knew England." She watched the curling smoke from
her tobacco as it drifted across the table. "If you knew England
you would comprehend so much more readily some parts of my story.

"But, being an American, you can have no adequate conception of
the conservatism that still prevails in certain quarters. I
refer to the really old families among the landed aristocracy.
Some of them have not changed essentially, in their attitude
towards the world in general, since the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

They make of family a fetish. They are ready to sacrifice
everything upon the altar of family. They may exhibit this pride