It was directed to Mr. Carr, and said as plainly as look could say,
"Don't undeceive her; keep up the delusion." But Thomas Carr was not so
apt at keeping up delusions at the expense of truth, and he only smiled
in reply.
"What damages are they suing for?"
"Oh," said Mr. Carr, with a laugh, and ready enough now: "ten thousand
pounds will cover it."
"Ten thousand pounds!" she echoed. "Of course they won't get half of it.
In this sort of action--breach of promise--parties never get so much as
they ask for, do they?"
"Not often."
She laughed a little as she quitted the room. It was difficult to remain
longer, and it never occurred to her to suspect that any graver matter
than this action was in question.
"Now, Carr?" began Lord Hartledon, seating himself near the table as he
closed the door after her, and speaking in low tones.
"I received this letter by the afternoon mail," said Mr. Carr, taking one
from the safe enclosure of his pocket-book. "It is satisfactory, so far
as it goes."
"I call it very satisfactory," returned Hartledon, glancing through it.
"I thought he'd listen to reason. What is done cannot be undone, and
exposure will answer no end. I wrote him an urgent letter the other day,
begging him to be silent for Maude's sake. Were I to expiate the past
with my life, it could not undo it. If he brought me to the bar of my
country to plead guilty or not guilty, the past would remain the same.
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