"Did she know of your embarrassments?"
"Too well."
"You tell me she was poor and—possibly she had embarrassments of her own?"
"Possibly."
Bulstrode came over to him.
"Was she at the Christmas ball that night?"
The young man rose as well, his eyes on his questioner's; the color had all left his face—he appeared fascinated—then he shook himself and unexpectedly laughed.
"No," he said; "oh no."
The older man bowed his head and replied, quite inaptly:
"I understand!"