Langholm hesitated.
"Yes."
Why should he lie?
"Do you mean to say that you have any suspicion who it is?" Severino was on his elbow.
"More than a suspicion. I am certain. There can be no doubt about it. A pure fluke gave me the clew, but every mortal thing fits it."
Severino dropped back upon his pillow. Langholm seemed glad to talk to him, to loosen his tongue, to unburden his heart ever so little. And, indeed, he was glad.
"And what are you going to do about it?"
"That's my difficulty. She must be cleared before the world. That is the first duty—if it could be done without—making bad almost worse!"
"Bad—worse? How could it, Langholm?"
No answer.