‘Madame,’ he began, and the tone, although quite respectful, had in it a certain ring of authority, which obliged Mrs. Belassis to be more candid than perhaps she had at first intended, ‘if we are to work together, we must understand one another. I have a motive in what I do. A friend of mine has been wronged, and I am anxious to assist him to his rights again; my motive for what I do is friendship. But you do not know Mr. Torwood. Philip Debenham is your nephew and near neighbour—why is it you are so anxious to disgrace him?’
Mrs. Belassis was somewhat taken aback by this home-thrust; but she was equal to the occasion.
‘I will tell you, Monsieur. As you say, we must be frank with one another; and I will not pretend that an abstract love of justice alone actuates me, for it would not be true, and you would not believe me. No; I have a grievance against Philip Debenham, and it is this. He has been more ungrateful to me and to my husband than you would believe possible. He owes us almost everything, for from the age of ten years, he was adopted by us, and brought up like our own child. He was educated abroad by his own wish; and after eight years of school and college life, we found him an excellent berth in a merchant’s office. This not being grand enough for my lord, who had not a penny of his own, he ran away and lived for eight years upon the charity of Mr. Torwood, whom he is now using so badly. Then he succeeded to a large fortune and property, and came back to this place, and has behaved with studied ingratitude to us ever since, openly accusing his uncle of frauds, which no doubt he would have perpetrated himself in the same situation. I need not say that we feel such base ingratitude keenly, and that for my husband’s sake I am justly indignant. When I find that he is spending Mr. Torwood’s money almost more freely than his own, I confess I do wish to see him brought to book.’
A step came tramping down the lane, and Tor’s tall figure emerged suddenly into view. He gave one quick glance at the two persons seated upon the fallen tree, lifted his hat and passed by without a word.
‘A handsome man!’ said Mrs. Belassis, looking after him with an evil light in her eyes. ‘One would not think, to look at him, what a load of guilt he was carrying about with him.’
Tor’s appearance seemed quite to have broken up the conference. Signor Pagliadini, with a preoccupied air, made his adieu, and left Mrs. Belassis to finish her walk alone.
‘Spends Torwood’s money almost more freely than his own,’ slowly repeated the Signor, in Mrs. Belassis’ French phrasing; and then he added, in good vigorous English, ‘The deuce he does!’
