He turned towards the other man with an interrogative glance, and was met
by a nod of the head, at which he leant back in his chair, crossed his
legs and folded his hands upon them, with the expression of some one who
has played his part in the game, and now retires in favour of another
competitor. The pale man moved his chair a little forward and took up the
conversation.

"Are you really quite certain that Sir Arthur Byrne has told you all
he knows?" he said earnestly, fixing on Juliet a look at once grave
and eager.

"Yes," she answered. "I can see that he is as puzzled as I am. And he
would be glad enough to find a way to get rid of me," she added bitterly.

"I thought you said you were attached to him," said the stranger in
surprise, "and that he had been very kind to you?"

"Yes," said Juliet, "he has, and I am as fond of him as possible. But he
has three stepdaughters now; he has married again, you know. And he is
not very well off. I am a great expense, besides being an extra girl. I
don't blame him for thinking I am one too many."

There was a long pause, during which Juliet was conscious of being
closely scrutinized.

"I think I may be able to give you news of your family," said the pale
man unexpectedly. "That is, if you are the person I think you are
likely to be."