"And another here, that you will not give an opportunity of speaking to her," interrupted Pyne. "You must not be so selfish, Mr. Pryor. You believe me that I am glad to find in you a cousin, do you not, Leonie? I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart."
She placed her hand in his proffered one without lifting her eyes.
"It is so good of you!" she returned gently. "I realize how hard it must be for you when you remember that my mother's disgrace is the first that has ever stained your noble family. Perhaps some day you will let me tell you the story, and then you may find a little sympathy for the woman who was driven to the act of which she was guilty to save her child from starving."
"And my uncle allowed that torture to rest upon his wife? I wonder that you can look upon one of us, knowing that it was one of our blood that caused you such suffering!"
"It was not his fault."
"This is not the time to speak of things like those!" Mr. Pryor cut in. "I am going to take her home with me now, Pyne. You will know where to find her when you want to see her, and you also know that you will be always welcome."
They shook hands again and separated.
Andrew Pryor led Leonie, still in her ragged costume, down to his carriage, placed her inside with old-school courtesy, and gave the order for "home."
"I can hardly realize it," he exclaimed, when he had closed the door, "that you are really a girl! What a surprise it will be to Mrs. Pryor and the girls. And you put on that costume as a sort of private detective?"