It took but a moment of time for all these considerations to tear across Mrs. Nixon’s mind, and he added:—
“I think it is time now to speak of it.”
With haunting visions of card-games never played, she responded unsteadily:—
“Pray do.”
Mr. Derwent pressed his finger-tips lightly together.
“Before I engaged Helen,” he began, “she had engaged me.”
Mrs. Nixon leaned back in her chair under pressure of faintness.
“Her grandparents came to me as a well-known lawyer and engaged me to undertake her cause in a lawsuit regarding a large fortune. I have been working on it for a long time, and success is in sight. The girl was being sensibly educated, and so at last it came about that I took her into the office for the convenience of us both.”
Mrs. Nixon’s face was a study; but her mind was not yet relieved.
“Miss Maynard is an heiress?” she asked.