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No he had only foreseen possibilities, on the day when it first occurred to him that Romayne's marriage was assailable, before the court of Romayne's conscience, from the Roman Catholic point of view.
The letter that he kept open he was now engaged in reconsidering and correcting. It was addressed as usual to the Secretary of the Order at Rome; and, when it had undergone the final revision, it contained these lines: My last letter informed you of Romayne's return to London and to Miss Eyrecourt.
"The more witnesses are present, the more relieved I shall feel." He turned to his traveling companion. "Let Mr. Romayne's lawyer," he resumed, "state what our business is." The gray-headed gentleman stepped forward. "Are you able to attend to me, sir?" he asked. Romayne, reclining in his chair, apparently lost to all interest in what was going on, heard and answered.
I don't think I misinterpret the state of Romayne's mind, and mislead you, when I express my belief that this second indiscreet interference of his wife between his friend and himself will produce the very result which she dreads. Mark my words, written after the closest observation of him this new irritation of Romayne's sensitive self-respect will hasten his conversion.
Eyrecourt will be the only other guests in my house. Time must pass, and the boy will be older, before I may remind Stella of Romayne's last wishes on that sad morning when we two knelt on either side of him. In the meanwhile, it is almost happiness enough for me to look forward to the day
He was himself disposed to think that the moral remedy, in Romayne's case, might prove to be the best remedy. "With submission to what the doctors may decide," his lordship said, "the right thing to do, in my opinion, is to divert our friend's mind from himself. I see a plain necessity for making a complete change in the solitary life that he has been leading for years past.
Stella remained impenetrable to persuasion. "I have only been introduced to Mr. Romayne half an hour since," she said. "I am not vain enough to suppose that I can produce a favorable impression on any one in so short a time." She had expressed, in other words, Romayne's own idea of himself, in speaking of her to Lord Loring. He was struck by the coincidence.
Mortleman looked as if he would have preferred going down on his knees, but he yielded, and took a chair. "I think you have been Mr. Romayne's companion for a few days, in the hours of recreation?" the priest began. "Yes, Father." "Does he appear to be at all weary of his residence in this house?" "Oh, far from it!
His last look rested not on me but on the old Abbey. MY record of events approaches its conclusion. On the next day we returned to the hotel in London. At Romayne's suggestion, I sent the same evening to my own house for any letters which might be waiting for me. His mind still dwelt on the duel; he was morbidly eager to know if any communication had been received from the French surgeon.
A man of your strict sense of honor of your intellect of your high aspirations of your personal charm and influence is not a man whom we can allow to run to waste. Open your mind, my friend, fairly to me, and I will open my mind fairly to you. Let me set the example. I say it with authority; an enviable future is before you." Romayne's pale cheeks flushed with excitement.
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