It will be a relief to all his friends to know that he passed away peacefully." She looked him in the eyes determinedly.

"Monsieur Claridge is not my kinsman, but he is my fellow-countryman.

If you mean well by monsieur, your knowledge and your riches should help him on his way.

But your past is no guarantee of good faith, as you will acknowledge." He looked her in the eyes with a far meaning.

"But I am giving guarantees of good faith now," he said softly.