Amelie got up and stood in front of him, with head downcast. Instinctively and completely she knew this to be the truth, and was humbled. She touched his arm gently with her finger-tips.
'Yes, that is a very good reason,' she said. 'Bertie, I am sorry. All these awful weeks I have believed the other. It has made everything black and bitter to me.'
'Have you minded so much?' he asked.
'I have minded more than I can possibly tell you,' she said. 'But I believe you now. And I am sorry.'
Bertie took her hand and kissed it. There was more to tell yet.
'I want to tell you first about the letter,' he said, 'and then there is just one word more. Mrs. Emsworth destroyed it, or believed she did, but it fell into the hands of a man, whom I will name if you wish. At least, she regards it as certain it was he. He blackmailed me twice over it, sending me once a copy of the letter, the second time the letter itself. I paid him both times.'
'Who was it?' asked she.
'Harold Bilton. Now, what do you wish me to do?'
'It will mean publicity if you prosecute him?' she asked. 'All those horrors of a court?'
'Yes.'