"Do you know what you are saying, Mr. Garth?"
"Do you know the name of Emma Calvert, Mr. Vaud?"
The lawyer paled and pushed his chair from the table. "I--I have--heard the--name," he stuttered.
"Then you have heard the name of a very injured woman, Mr. Vaud."
Before the other could reply a knock came to the door, and immediately afterwards it opened to admit a tall and handsome young man. He bowed to Garth and placed some papers before Mr. Vaud. "Will you please excuse this intrusion, father, and look over these?" he said quietly.
"My son Herbert, Mr. Garth," said the elder Vaud, and again the young man bowed. He rather resembled his father in appearance, but there was a sternness about his manner which was wanting in that of the elder gentleman. He was dark-haired, and clean shaven, with thin lips and a compressed mouth. There was a look of resolution and hard work about him which did not recommend his personality to pleasure-loving Garth. However, the latter bowed and smiled when introduced, and scribbled on a sheet of blotting-paper while Herbert spoke to his father. Still thinking on the subject of his discourse with Mr. Vaud he absently wrote the name of Emma Calvert. Young Vaud moved near him while looking for a special paper, and in doing so his eye fell on the name. With an ejaculation he drew back, and turned as pale as his father had done.
"What do you know of Emma Calvert?" he demanded abruptly; "why do you write down her name?"
"Herbert!" said the father, warningly--almost imploringly. "I shall speak," said Herbert, his composure replaced by intense excitement. "What do you knew of Emma Calvert, sir?"
Garth looked up surprised. "I know as much as Robert, the valet of Fellenger, could tell me."
"A scamp who served a scamp," muttered the young man.