"Well?" said Cleone softly.
"Well, Cleone, I happen to know that motive is—yourself!" Here the Duchess, alert as usual, caught Barnabas by the cravat, and only just in time.
"Sit still—hush!" she whispered, glancing up into his distorted face, for Mr. Chichester was going on in his soft, deliberate voice:
"Oh, it is all very simple, Cleone, and very clumsy,—thus, see you. In the guise of Good Samaritan this stranger buys the debts of the brother, trusting to the gratitude of the sister. He knows your pride, Cleone, so he would buy your brother and put you under lasting obligation to himself. The scheme is a little coarse, and very clumsy,—but then, he is young."
"And you say—he tried to pay these debts—without Ronald's knowledge?
Are you sure—quite sure?"
"Quite! And I know, also, that when Ronald's creditor refused, he actually offered to double—to treble the sum! But, indeed, you would be cheap at sixty thousand pounds, Cleone!"
"Oh—hateful!" she cried.
"Crude, yes, and very coarse, but, as I said before, he is young—what, are you going?"
"Yes—no. Pray find my guardian and bring him to me."
"First, tell me I may see you again, Cleone, before I leave for
London?"