"Oh," exclaimed Juliet, "can you really?"

"Well, it is possible," admitted the other. "I can't say for
certain yet."

"Oh, do, do tell me!" cried the girl.

"Out of the question, at present," he replied firmly. "I must first
satisfy myself as to whose child you are, and on that point you appear
able to give me no assistance. You must wait till I can find out
something further about this matter of your adoption. And even then,"
he added, "it is not certain if I can tell you. You must understand
that, though certain family secrets have been placed in my possession,
it does not depend upon myself whether or not I shall ultimately reveal
them to you."

Juliet's face fell for a moment, but she refused to allow herself to be
discouraged.

"There is a chance for me, anyhow!" she exclaimed. "How I hope you
will be allowed to tell me in the end! But why," she went on, turning
to Mr. Findlay, "did you make me think you knew nothing at all about
me. I suppose the family secrets your partner speaks of are the
secrets of my family?"

"My dear young lady," said Mr. Findlay, "Lord Ashiel is not my partner.
On the contrary, he is an old client of ours, and it was at his request
that we wrote to you as we did. We know no more about your affairs than
you have told us yourself."