"Very possibly," I said.

"But you mustn't speak as if Lord Iffield and you were her only alternatives." Dawling thought a moment.

"Couldn't something be got out of the people she has consulted?
She must have been to people.

How else can she have been condemned ?" "Condemned to what?
Condemned to perpetual nippers?
Of course she has consulted some of the big specialists, but she has done it, you may be sure, in the most clandestine manner; and even if it were supposable that they would tell you anything--which I altogether doubt--you would have great difficulty in finding out which men they are.

Therefore leave it alone; never show her what you suspect." I even before he quitted me asked him to promise me this.