"A compound of the dandy and the villain—a man who can plan behind her back to rob her of the knowledge of her honorable name, who cares nothing for the grief and shame of her wronged mother! To think that she should love him! And most probably she hates me for having re-appeared when she believed me dead. I have a most disagreeable task before me, for I must prove to her the unworthiness of the villain on whom she has set her heart," he mused, gravely.
"Are you through with your questioning?" inquired Mrs. Leslie, noting his pre-occupied silence.
"Yes," he replied, adding, with a slight smile: "Perhaps you would like to ask me some questions now."
"Yes, I would," she smiled, with engaging frankness.
"I am ready to reply to you," he answered, cordially.
"Perhaps I shall startle you," she said; "I am going to ask you a leading question, as a lawyer would say. You must remember that I give you carte blanche not to answer it unless you wish."
"Thank you for the permission," he said. "Let me hear it."
She looked at him with an odd gleam in her bright, kindly eyes.
"It is this," she said. "I believe that you and Irene Berlin, my protege, have met before last night. Am I right?"
He looked at her with a curious, intent gaze.