By way of encouraging her to talk, the good-natured lawyer alluded to what she had said when they parted overnight.

"You wanted to ask me something," he reminded her.

"What is it ?" Without one preliminary word of warning to prepare him for the shock, Kitty answered: "I want you to tell me what has become of papa, and why Syd has gone away and left me.

You know who Syd is, don't you ?" The only alternative left to Mr.Sarrazin was to plead ignorance.

While Kitty was instructing him on the subject of her governess, he had time to consider what he should say to her next.