He got away at length to his own room. The servants greeted him with smiling faces, the housekeeper was in tears.
"Not that I ever believed it," she said, "Never from the first. And now you'll have the finest practice in London. I'd quite forgot, sir, to say that there is a young lady waiting for you."
There was no need for Lawrence to ask who was waiting for him. He closed the door behind him, and a second later Hetty was in his arms. Then there was a long, clinging caress, and their lips met in the sweetest of embraces. It was a long time before either of them spoke. Hetty's eyes were full of happy tears.
"I shall realise it presently," Bruce said at length. "My darling, I should never have had my good name cleared thus but for you. You are the bravest girl in the world. And all those dangers for me!"
"I was not afraid, dearest," Hetty said. "I thought of you. I knew it would come right. I felt from the first that the truth would come out. And now all those people have gone. Bruce, you will not be sorry for this after----"
The telephone jangled sharply. Bruce listened to the message with a smile.
"The Duchess wants me to see her boy at once," he said. "The Duchess, you know; the one who so annoyed you at Lady Longmere's party."
Hetty clapped her hands joyfully.
"That is a good omen," she said. "They will be all after you now, dear."
Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks glowed with happiness. Bruce looked at her with pride and love in his eyes.