"No, not to-morrow—to-night. I am quite well able to talk. Cynthia, where is your father?"
The question was utterly unexpected.
"My father?" she echoed. "Why do you want to know?"
"Because I have an impression that he is in England, and that you have seen him lately."
"If I had," said Cynthia tremulously, "I should be bound not to tell any one."
"Ah, that is true! And you would not trust even me," he remarked, with a great sigh. "Well, I suppose that you are right!"
"I trust you perfectly," she said.
"You have no reason to do so. Cynthia, do you know why Enid Vane came to-day?"
"Yes,—she told me."
"She is engaged to Mr. Evandale. She has set me free."