"I forgot. You are in love with that foolish young doctor," he said in his sleepy voice. "That is a pity. At our first meeting I warned you to beware of Allen Scott."
"I know you did. Why did you warn me?"
"Ah! I see your mother did not tell you everything, Miss Carew, else you would not ask me such a question. I warned you, lest you should give him your heart. It would be foolish to do so, because you can never marry him."
"Why?"
"That is my secret. I don't tell you all I know. It is not worth my while."
Dora looked at him scornfully.
"It is worth your while to blackmail my mother!"
"It pays! it pays!" said Pallant shamelessly. "I must live, you know. Lady Burville is greatly afraid of her present husband, so she keeps me well supplied with money to hold my tongue."
"Where did you learn my mother's history?" said Dora, disgusted with this brutal speech.
"From the best of all authorities--her first husband."