CHAPTER VII.
THE SECRETARY.
"Was ever a man in so uncomfortable a position ?" Lambert asked himself this question as soon as he was safe in his studio, and he found it a difficult one to answer.

It was true that what he had said to Agnes, and what Agnes had said to him, was perfectly honest and extremely honorable, considering the state of their feelings.
But the conversation had been overheard by an unscrupulous woman, whose jealousy would probably twist innocence into guilt.

It was certain that she would go to Pine and give him a garbled version of what had taken place, in which case the danger was great, both to himself and to Agnes.
Lambert had spoken bravely enough to the marplot, knowing that he had done no wrong, but now he was by no means sure that he had acted rightly.

Perhaps it would have been better to temporize but that would have meant a surrender young to Chaldea's unmaidenly wooing.

And, as the man had not a spark of love for her in a heart given entirely to another woman, he was unwilling even to feign playing the part of a lover.
On reflection he still held to his resolution to go to London, thinking that it would be best for him to be out of reach of Agnes while Pine was in the neighborhood.