"That has been proved beyond a doubt. My grandfather has seen the copy of the certificate and now holds it."
"Is he pleased?"
"Very pleased. He is now as friendly toward me as he has been hitherto hostile."
Ireland nodded, breathing heavily. "I thought he would be. He and I had a long talk about you on the day I called. That was when I saw Mrs. Ward and----"
"You can go on," said George, seeing his hesitation. "I know the whole story."
"What story?" asked Ireland, suspiciously.
"The story of what happened at San Remo. Mrs. Ward I know was Violet Howard, and her sister Jenny is Miss Bull."
"Yes. Poor Jenny, she was the better of the two, and now she drags out a miserable life in a London lodging-house. While Violet, who is a bad woman----"
"And the mother of Dorothy," interrupted George, imperiously. "Say no more, sir."
"You are quite right. As I can't say good of the woman let me say no bad. Well, you know how she loved your father."