Page:Elizabeth's Pretenders.djvu/310

Rh hope and ambition which he had been building of late was suddenly swept down. Nothing could ever again be as it had been between them.

As to Melchior's vile insinuation, it was only when he repeated the question that Baring saw he must reply, and resist the inclination to punch his sitter's head.

"Miss Shaw's character is beyond all suspicion—if that is what you mean, monsieur. Wherever this money comes from, I will put my hand into the fire for it, it comes to her honourably, straightforwardly. Your information is a great shock to me. I cannot disbelieve you; but the only explanation of it I can give is that she is romantic in her friendships, and has made the great mistake of wishing to help my sister by—by this unfortunate means. No one can regret it more than I—no one can regret it as much. If you choose to believe that I knew of this—that I accepted this sacrifice—you must. It does not much matter. All that matters is that no discreditable suspicion should attach to her name."

"I have learnt what I wanted to know," said the other, rising. "Under that cold exterior of yours you love this girl—you care for her in a way that I shall never care for any woman. Whether she cares for you I am not so sure. It may be only 'romantic friendship—here he laughed—"as you call it. If so, well. I may have something more to say to you by-and-by. At present I have no choice but to leave the field to you. Make your running while you can. Je ne vous en veux pas—'All is fair in love and war.

"No! What you have done is neither fair nor honourable. You have surprised a secret, and betrayed it. You