Fourthly, that Anne's anxiety (as described by Blanche) to hear the names of the gentlemen who were staying at Windygates, pointed, in all probability, to Geoffrey.
Fifthly, that this last inference disturbed the second conclusion, and reopened the doubt whether Geoffrey had not been stating his own case, after all, under pretense of stating the case of a friend.

Sixthly, that the one way of obtaining any enlightenment on this point, and on all the other points involved in mystery, was to go to Craig Fernie, and consult Mrs.Inchbare's experience during the period of Anne's residence at the inn.

Sir Patrick's apology for keeping all this a secret from his niece followed.

He had shrunk from agitating her on the subject until he could be sure of proving his conclusions to be true.

The proof had been obtained; and he was now, therefore, ready to open his mind to Blanche without reserve.
"So much, my dear," proceeded Sir Patrick, "for those necessary explanations which are also the necessary nuisances of human intercourse.