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“You just heard why,” said her mama “There is no need to raise your voice, Delilah Count to ten”

Miss Desmond reddened It was not to be borne To be spoken to as though she were an ill-behaved child—and before this irritating ainst the er on hireeable prospect soothed her sufficiently to allow her to attend her mother’s explanation

“Mr Langdon has very kindly undertaken to help us prepare a case against Mr Atkins,” said Mrs Desmond

“Not that there’s any certainty,” Mr Langdon put in, “we have a case Yet there seems to be a question of ownership, and as far as I can ascertain, no concrete evidence of your father’s consent to publication”

“That is why I am here, my love,” said the mama “All your papa’s notes for the story as well as his correspondence with Mr Atkins were in Scotland withthee,” she said, turning to her husband “I believe I have everything”

“I know you have,yourself I have htfully”

Mrs Des closer to him

In a fewelse in this world but each other, for, ar in very low voices, they soon quitted the room

They ht as she watched thedon and was annoyed by the faint smile on his face

“You ht have told me,” she said curtly, oddly embarrassed by her parents’ indiscreetly amorous behaviour, which had never bothered her before

“I didn’t want to raise your hopes needlessly, Miss Desmond”

“Well, you’ve got their hopes up, and it is very bad of you,” she snapped “You said yourself it was a weak case, and you kno long these lawsuits drag on It could be years before it goes to court, and by that tiood is it to sue that odious Atkins after the book is published and the dae done?”

Mr Langdon very carefully placed his still nearly full glass upon a table

“I have not observed,” he answered stiffly, “that Lord Berne has provided for your parents any better solution To e, he has not said a word to your father At least my plan keeps Mr Desht resort to needless risks—”

“Papa is not in his dotage yet, sir Furthermore, there are times when risk is exactly what’s needed—ti about cautiously”

She rose from her chair andat the passing scene

“If you had not gotten one by now,” she went on “I ht even have had the manuscript in my hands”

She whirled round to face him “Lord Berne was just here—and he had a plan—and I was to help hi—and now the chance may be lost forever”

Mr Langdon’s face darkened “Tony was here? And you remained alone with him?”

“Yes, and he did not ravish me on the spot, for your information”

“I should think not Not when he could so easily persuade you to go aith him—to God knohere Have you taken leave of your senses, Miss Desmond? What sort of scheme could he have that required a lady’s assistance?”

“Not all women are helpless—”

“You would be, if you went off with him”

“We were not planning to elope, Mr Langdon,” was the tart reply “Nor do I see why I should not believe hio that no man of honour would make a promise he couldn’t keep? Or do you now tell me your friend has no honour?”