"So I said," answered Ralph, calmly; "and she was stopping in the Pink Shop also on that night."
Branwin winced and became very calm. It was wonderful to see how rapidly he cooled down from his hot anger. "Miss Pearl was in the shop as a client of Madame Coralie's," he said with an attempt at dignity. "You can have no grounds for saying that she had anything to do with the matter."
"I never said so," rejoined Ralph, drily, "and I only suspect you because of your wearing Harris tweed. Someone clothed in such a cloth certainly lurked in the passage on that night. Was that person you?"
"No," said Sir Joseph, coolly; "and I defy you to prove it."
"Oh! papa, we don't wish to prove it," said Audrey, quickly. "Your word denying your presence there is sufficient."
Branwin turned on his daughter with a great show of courtesy. "Pardon me, but I have not the honour of your acquaintance," he said politely. "You are a stranger to me."
"Papa, what do you mean?"
"I mean that you have left my house to see your lover against my wishes. I now cast you off, and you can stay here. You shall never re-enter the home you have disgraced."
Audrey sank into a chair with a cry of dismay, and Ralph advanced furiously on the millionaire.
"Sir Joseph, you can't mean this?"