Here was a sinister villain distracted between avarice and revenge, and sore puzzled which way to turn.

Of course he could expose the real parentage of Mary Bartley, and put both Bartley and Hope to shame, and then the Cliffords would make Bartley disgorge the L20,000.

But he, Monckton, would not make a shilling by that, and it would be a weak revenge on Bartley, who could now spare L20,000, and no revenge at all on Hope, for Hope was now well-to-do, and would most likely be glad to get his daughter back.

Then, on the other hand, he could easily frighten Bartley into giving him L5000 to keep dark, but in that case he must forego his vengeance on Hope.
This difficulty had tormented Monckton all along; but now Mrs.Dawson had revealed another obstacle.

Young Clifford and Mary in love with each other.