He read it carefully through.
"Did I not tell you," he said, "that she would find some excuse for refusing to hear your confession?
She begins by delaying it, simply to gain time for something else which she has it in her mind to do.

When did you receive this note?
Soon after you went upstairs ?" "About a quarter of an hour after, as well as I can guess." "Do you know what happened down here after you left us ?" "Horace told me that Lady Janet had offered Miss Roseberry the use of her boudoir." "Any more ?" "He said that you had shown her the way to the room." "Did he tell you what happened after that ?" "No." "Then I must tell you.

If I can do nothing more in this serious state of things, I can at least prevent your being taken by surprise.

In the first place, it is right you should know that I had a motive for accompanying Miss Roseberry to the boudoir.

I was anxious (for your sake) to make some appeal to her better self--if she had any better self to address.