The spot was one quite hemmed in from observation, a fact of which she seemed to be quite aware.
'I have something to tell you,' she said; 'something important.

But you are so occupied with that old stone that I am obliged to wait.' 'It is not true surely!' he said, looking at the paper.
'No, look here,' she said, holding up the sheet.

It was not what he had supposed, but a new one--the local rival to that which had contained the announcement, and was still damp from the press.

She pointed, and he read-- 'We are authorized to state that there is no foundation whatever for the assertion of our contemporary that a marriage is likely to be arranged between Captain De Stancy and Miss Power of Stancy Castle.' Somerset pressed her hand.

'It disturbed me,' he said, 'though I did not believe it.' 'It astonished me, as much as it disturbed you; and I sent this contradiction at once.' 'How could it have got there ?' She shook her head.
'You have not the least knowledge ?' 'Not the least.