"By one of those greatest flukes in the world, which are the commonplaces of existence. I was at a friend's house on the other side of the river when two youngsters came in who said that they had seen a Dorothy Gilbert this afternoon at Mrs Vernon's garden-party; so, on the off-chance of your being my Dorothy Gilbert, I came. I take it that there is no doubt that you are my Dorothy Gilbert."
"I am Dorothy Gilbert of Newcaster."
She uttered the words in a tone of defiance which seemed to startle him. For a moment he was still. When he spoke again his voice was lower.
"That's what I don't understand."
"What don't you understand?"
"The stories which the papers tell about you."
"I don't know what they may be, but I think it's very possible that I should understand them if you were to tell me what they are."
"But you had no hand in--in what took place at Newcaster."
"Oh yes, I had."
"Miss Gilbert! It's impossible!"