"I know you mistrust me," he went on. "If I were in your place I certainly should do so. A thousand pities it is that I cannot tell you who I am. But--well--I tell you in confidence that I dare not!"
"Dare not! Of what are you afraid?" inquired Dorise. The man she had met under such romantic circumstances interested her keenly. He was Hugh's go-between. Poor Hugh! She knew he was suffering severely in his loneliness, and his incapability to clear himself of the terrible stigma upon him.
"I'm afraid of several things," replied the white cavalier. "The greatest fear I have is that you may not believe in me."
"I do believe in you," declared the girl.
"Excellent!" he replied enthusiastically. "Then let us get to business--pardon me for putting it so. But I am, after all, a business man. I am interested in a lot of different businesses, you see."
"Of what character?"
"No, Miss Ranscomb. That is another point upon which I regret that I cannot satisfy your pardonable curiosity. Please allow your mind to rest upon the one main point--that I am acting in the interests of the man with--the man who is, I believe, your greatest and most intimate friend."
"I understood that when we met in Nice."
"Good! Now I understand that your mother, Lady Ranscomb, is much against your marriage with Hugh Henfrey. She has other views."
"Really! Who told you that?"
"I have ascertained it in the course of my inquiry."
Dorise paused, and then looking the man of mystery straight in the face, asked: "What do you really know about me?"
"Well," he laughed lightly. "A good deal. Now tell me when could you be free to get away from your mother for a whole day?"
"Why?"
"I want to know. Just tell me the date. When are you returning to London?"
"On Saturday week. I could get away--say--on Tuesday week."
"Very good. You would have to leave London by an early train in the morning--if I fail to send a car for you, which I hope to do. And be back again late at night."
"Why?"
"Why," he echoed. "Because I have a reason."
"I believe you will take me to meet Hugh--eh? Ah! How good you are!" cried the girl in deep emotion. "I shall never be able to thank you sufficiently for all you are doing. I--I have been longing all these weeks to see him again--to hear his explanation why he went to the woman's house at that hour--why----"
"He will tell you everything, no doubt," said her mysterious visitor. "He will tell you everything except one fact."