"No. I am in sober earnest."
"Then perhaps you will tell me what grounds you have for saying this."
And here was Frederick's dilemma. What grounds had he? None. The reasons that seemed weighty enough to his own mind, were as nothing when spoken; and it suddenly struck him that he was not justified in repeating the gossip of a girl as careless as Rose.
"I have seen a strange look in her face more than once," he said; "a wild, awful expression in her eyes, that I don't believe could visit the perfectly sane. Isaac, on my honour I don't speak without believing that I have good reason--and that it lies in my duty to do so."
"I think you speak without grounds, Frederick," said Sir Isaac, gravely. "Many of us look wild enough at times. I have noticed nothing of this."
"She is on her guard before you."
"That is nonsense. Insane people are no more on their guard before one person than another. Did you go to sleep and dream this?"
Frederick winced. He saw that Isaac was laughing at him. "There are other indications," he said.
"What are they?"
Could he answer? Could he tell the doubt, spoken by Georgina--that the lady had been in her room in the night? Could he tell of the meeting with Honour on the stairs? Of the telegram he had surreptitiously read? And if he did, what proofs were they? Georgina might have had nightmare: Mrs. Carleton's horror at sight of Honour was not unnatural: and Prance's telegram need not refer to her mistress. No; it was of no use mentioning these: they might weaken rather than strengthen Isaac's belief.