And he dared to give me another look—shot with triumph—while Miss Julia supported an invidious position as best she might.
"Wait a bit!" said I, stepping in at last. "I thought I gathered from you the other day, Miss Brabazon, that you felt the reality of your story intensely?"
"I did indeed, Mr. Gillon."
"It distressed you very much?"
"I might have been going through the whole thing."
"It—it even moved you to tears?"
"I should be ashamed to say how many."
"I daresay," I pursued, smiling with all my might, "that even your handkerchief was heavy with them, Miss Brabazon?"
"It was!"
"Then so much for the origin of that idea! It would have occurred to anybody under similar circumstances."