“This man came to the house for the first time yesterday and asked to see me. He had certain letters with him⁠—love letters, signed with my name⁠—”

“But which weren’t written by you,” put in the young man quietly.

Virginia looked at him in some astonishment.

“How did you know that?”

“Oh, I deduced it. But go on.”

“He wanted to blackmail me⁠—and I⁠—well, I don’t know if you’ll understand, but I⁠—let him.”

She looked at him appealingly, and he nodded his head reassuringly.

“Of course I understand. You wanted to see what it felt like.”

“How frightfully clever of you! That’s just what I did feel.”