"Very well, see that you keep your promise."
Young Heckle slunk away, and Lord Stansford turned to Miss Linderham, who stood looking on, speechless with horror and surprise.
"What a brute you are!" she cried, her under lip quivering.
"Yes," he replied quietly. "Most of us men are brutes when you take a little of the varnish off. Won't you sit down, Miss Linderham? There is no need now to reply to the question you asked me: the incident you have witnessed, and what you have heard, has been its answer."
The young lady did not sit down; she stood looking at him, her eyes softening a trifle.
"Is it true, then?" she cried.
"Is what true?"
"That you are here as a hired guest?"
"Yes, it is true."
"Then why did you knock him down, if it was the truth?"