'Oh! but——'
'Yes. Pitiless some of these people are! Although she had forfeited all claim—still she was a daughter of Sir Hervey Levering. I insisted they should treat the girl humanely, and we became friends—that is, "sort of." In spite of all I did for her——'
'What did you do?'
'I—I've told you, and I lent her money. No small sum either——'
'Has she never paid it back?'
'Oh, yes; after a time. But I always kept her secret—as much as I knew.'
'But you've been telling me——'
'That was my duty—and I never had her full confidence.'
'Wasn't it natural she——'
'Well, all things considered, she might have wanted to tell me who was responsible.'