“You have given yourself much trouble, Schoolmaster,” observed Eugene, blowing the feathery ash from his cigar. “I hope it may prove remunerative.”

“And I am glad to speak,” pursued the boy, “in presence of Mr. Lightwood, because it was through Mr. Lightwood that you ever saw my sister.”

For a mere moment, Wrayburn turned his eyes aside from the schoolmaster to note the effect of the last word on Mortimer, who, standing on the opposite side of the fire, as soon as the word was spoken, turned his face towards the fire and looked down into it.

“Similarly, it was through Mr. Lightwood that you ever saw her again, for you were with him on the night when my father was found, and so I found you with her on the next day. Since then, you have seen my sister often. You have seen my sister oftener and oftener. And I want to know why?”