"Yes; I know he has a house there," said Paul, in thoughtful tones. "How came you to see those letters, Catinka?"
"Mr. Herne showed the last two to me when I reproached him with leaving London instead of attending to a meeting of our society. He said that he must go down on that Sunday night and assure himself that the reports were false."
"Did he believe them?"
"I think he did," said Catinka, promptly. "He said that Miss Lester was young and thoughtless, and might be led astray by the evil mind of Mr. Lovel. He wanted to save her from destruction, and talked in quite a religious way about her."
"I know," said Paul, quietly. "Herne is a fanatic. So he went down on that Sunday night?"
"By the train at four o'clock in the afternoon. I followed."
"Why did you follow?"
"Because I desired to see this girl," replied Catinka, coolly. "You see, Mr. Mexton, I did not wish to lose Mr. Herne, because I wanted his money for my society; so I thought I would see what this girl was like--if she was as lovely as he declared her to be. And again, I wished to see Mr. Lovel, and get him to marry the girl, so that I could have this dear Herne to myself."
"But you were not in love with Herne!"
"No; but to secure him and his money to my cause, I would have married him. I quite intended to do so, and went to Barnstead that I might behold my rival; to see, you understand, if I had much to fear from her."