Mercy Merrick had only to dare, and to become Grace Roseberry if she pleased.

She has dared, and she has been Grace Roseberry for nearly four months past.
At this moment, while Lady Janet is talking to Horace Holmcroft, something that has passed between them has set her thinking of the day when she took the first fatal step which committed her to the fraud.
How marvelously easy of accomplishment the act of personation had been! At first sight Lady Janet had yielded to the fascination of the noble and interesting face.

No need to present the stolen letter; no need to repeat the ready-made story.

The old lady had put the letter aside unopened, and had stopped the story at the first words.

"Your face is your introduction, my dear; your father can say nothing for you which you have not already said for yourself." There was the welcome which established her firmly in her false identity at the outset.