“Now I may not drag my wife’s name through the mud. By clearing him⁠—I ruin her.”

Warburton could find nothing to say. Only after some time did he clear his throat and say that he was honoured by Carstares’ confidence.

“You⁠—ah⁠—you dwell on the part played by his Grace on that evening. Surely your⁠—shall we say⁠—overwrought imagination magnified that?”

Richard was disinterested.

“I suppose so. Mayhap ’twas his extraordinary personality dominating me. He cannot have pulled the wires as I thought he did. Not even Belmanoir could make me act as I did. But⁠—but at the time I felt that he was pushing⁠—pushing⁠—compelling me to accuse Jack. Oh, doubtless I was mad!”

Warburton eyed the dejected figure compassionately. Then he seemed to harden himself and to regain some of his lost primness of manner.