“You’re worse than the others,” she said. “How dare you?”
For a moment Lord Manton thought that she was going to box his ears. He drew away from her hurriedly and attempted an apology.
“I am sincerely sorry,” he said. “For the moment I forgot that you were not my daughter. She always came to me with her troubles ever since she was quite a child. I got into the way of taking her hand——”
“Never mind about my hand. Tell me the truth about Dr. O’Grady.”
Lord Manton saw that she was mollified. To be mistaken for the daughter of an earl is a soothing thing under any circumstances. He thought for an instant of trying to repossess himself of her hand; but Miss Blow’s eyes, though no longer passionate, were steely. He felt himself aggrieved, and spoke with brutal directness.
“To put the matter plainly,” he said, “Dr. O’Grady has run away from his creditors.”
“I don’t believe a word of it,” said Miss Blow.
“I have no doubt that he intended to let you know where he was going. I expect he wants you to go after him and join him there—make a fresh start, you know, in the New World, and build up a happy home, where the miserable past may be forgotten. That’s what he means. I’m convinced of it. Only he had to leave this rather hurriedly in the middle of the night. But don’t be despondent, Miss Blow; you’ll get a letter from him soon.”
“That’s all nonsense,” said Miss Blow. “He’s done nothing of the sort.”
“But, my dear young lady, how can you possibly speak so confidently? He’s not the first man who has run away under such circumstances. Plenty of people do it, I assure you. It’s not even considered disgraceful.”