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Rh Belcour of being an accomplice, and his natnral chivalry impelled him to defeat it. But he came to my rescue without any flourish of trumpets. He helped me as he would have helped any other woman in like circumstances; and I was, moreover, his sister's friend. Not even to her did he confess the real truth. He wished it to be considered 'an accident.' But I saw she did not believe it. Neither do I. He is an odd man. If he had the smallest personal regard for me, his conduct on this occasion would be divested of its singularity, at all events. For a man to take all this trouble for a woman who is rather obnoxious to him than otherwise, is fine. I am justified in saying I 'admire' him."

After writing this she closed her book, and sat for the best part of an hour motionless, her head resting between her hands. The church clocks had struck midnight before she was in bed.