Blind Love

The sudden transition, from an earnest and devoted defence of the man,

to an easy and familiar inquiry about him, startled Sir Giles.

For the moment, he had nothing to say; Iris had made him think. She had

shown a capacity for mastering her strongest feelings, at the moment

when they threatened to overcome her, which is very rarely found in a

young woman. How to manage her was a problem for patient resolution to

solve. The banker's obstinacy, rather than his conviction, had

encouraged him to hold to the hope of Hugh's marriage, even after his

nephew had been refused for the second time. His headstrong goddaughter

had come to visit him of her own accord. She had not forgotten the days

of her childhood, when he had some influence over her--when she had

found him kinder to her than her father had ever been. Sir Giles saw

that he had taken the wrong tone with Iris. His anger had not alarmed

her; his opinion had not influenced her. In Hugh's interests, he

determined to try what consideration and indulgence would do towards

cultivating the growth of her regard for him. Finding that she had left

her maid and her luggage at the hotel, he hospitably insisted on their

removal to his own house.

"While you are in Ardoon, Iris, you are my guest," he said.

She pleased him by readily accepting the invitation--and then annoyed

him by asking again if he had heard anything of Lord Harry.

He answered shortly and sharply: "I have heard nothing. What is your

last news of him?"

"News," she said, "which I sincerely hope is not true. An Irish paper

has been sent to me, which reports that he has joined the secret

society--nothing better than a society of assassins, I am afraid--which

is known by the name of the Invincibles."

As she mentioned that formidable brotherhood, Dennis Howmore returned

from the police-office. He announced that a Sergeant was then waiting

to receive instructions from Sir Giles.

V

Iris rose to go. Her godfather courteously stopped her.

"Wait here," he said, "until I have spoken to the Sergeant, and I will

escort you to my house. My clerk will do what is necessary at the

hotel. You don't look quite satisfied. Is the arrangement that I have

proposed not agreeable to you?"

Iris assured him that she gratefully acceded to the arrangement. At the

same time, she confessed to having been a little startled, on

discovering that he was in consultation with the police. "I remember

that we are in Ireland," she explained, "and I am foolish enough to

fear that you may be in some danger. May I hope that it is only a

trifle?"