How much, or how little of this story--or other dark stories of the same kind--is true, whether my grandfather was a consummate scoundrel, or the victim of a baseless slander,--whether he left India a rich man or a poor man, is known to no mortal except Lady Maulevrier, and compared with her the Theban Sphinx was a communicative individual.' 'Let the dead bury their dead,' said Hammond.

'Neither you nor your sisters can be the worse for this ancient slander.

No doubt every part of the story has been distorted and exaggerated in the telling; and a great deal of it may be pure invention, evolved from the inner consciousness of the slanderer.

God forbid that any whisper of scandal should ever reach Lady Lesbia's ears.' He ignored poor Mary.

It was to him as if there were no such person.