“Stay!” says Twemlow, rising as she rises. “Pardon me a moment. I should never have sought you out, madam, to say what I am going to say, but since you have sought me out and are here, I will throw it off my mind. Was it quite consistent, in candour, with our taking that resolution against Mr. Fledgeby, that you should afterwards address Mr. Fledgeby as your dear and confidential friend, and entreat a favour of Mr. Fledgeby? Always supposing that you did; I assert no knowledge of my own on the subject; it has been represented to me that you did.”

“Then he told you?” retorts Mrs. Lammle, who again has saved her eyes while listening, and uses them with strong effect while speaking.

“Yes.”