highest personal regard. The only matter of issue is whether he feels himself suited to marry Miss Lambert, desired to do so, and actually contracted such an agreement. Mr. Melville contends that Miss Lambert mistook the nature of his regard for her and Mrs. Lambert assumed something that was not in fact so. It is even imaginable that Miss Lambert herself knew this but did not feel able to extricate herself from what had become an embarrassing situation."
Mr. Justice McKeever smiled. "All manner of things are imaginable, Sir Oliver. We will restrict ourselves to what is demonstrable. However, Mr. Sacheverall, I take Sir Oliver's point that no one disputes the fact that a warm friendship developed between Mr. Melville and Mr. Lambert's family, especially his daughter. Such friendships do not always end in marriage. Please proceed with your case."
Sacheverall bowed, but he turned back to Lambert with perhaps a fraction less confidence in his stance and the set of his shoulders.
"During the course of their friendship, did Mr. Melville on occasion escort your daughter to certain functions, keep her company, walk and talk with her, tell her of his exploits, adventures, plans for the future? Did he share ideas with her, tastes in art, literature and music? Did he read poetry together with her, show her the drawings of his work, share jokes and humorous episodes? In general, did he pay court to her, Mr. Lambert?"
Rathbone glanced sideways at Melville, but he was staring straight ahead.
"He did all of those things, sir, as you well know," Lambert answered grimly. Sacheverall's words must have brought back memories to him, because now his reluctance was gone and he was plainly both hurt and angry. He no longer avoided Melville but looked straight at him, challengingly, all his bewilderment clear in his face.
Rathbone felt a sinking inside him. There was no defense against his kind of honesty. Had he been a juror he could have found only one way. Killian Melville was guilty, and it was almost impossible to believe well of him. No man could court a girl in the manner Lambert described and not expect that she would read it as a declaration of love. Anyone would. Not even a fool could mistake it.
He looked sideways again at Melville now. His fair head was bent forward and there was a flush in his cheeks. His eyes were filled with despair, as if he were trapped with no escape.
Rathbone was not sure whether he felt sorry for him or simply so overwhelmed with anger he wanted to slap him for his irresponsible cruelty.
"So it came as no surprise to you in the least when a betrothal followed, in the natural course of events?" Sachev-erall concluded.
"Of course not!" Lambert responded. "No one was surprised! It was as night follows day."
"Quite so." Sacheverall smiled sadly. He pursed his lips, frowning as he looked up at Lambert. "Arrangements were made for the wedding?"
"Yes. Announcement in the Times. All society knew." Lambert pronounced the words sharply, showing his pain and perhaps a certain feehng of alienation, as if he were only too aware of the whispers and the amusement which would be enjoyed at his family's expense.
"Naturally," Sacheverall murmured. "And then what happened, Mr. Lambert?"
Lambert squared his shoulders. "Melville broke it off," he said quietly. "No reason. No warning. Just broke it off."
"It was Killian Melville, not your daughter?" Sacheverall stressed, anger plain in his voice.
Rathbone looked at Melville, and he was sitting forward, one hand to his lips, biting his nails.
"It was." Lambert's face showed the strain. He was being publicly humiliated. He refused to look at anyone in the gallery. Rathbone was sharply aware of how much better it would have been for everyone if Zillah Lambert had consented to be the one to break the betrothal, regardless of whether she wished to or not. Apparently she had simply not believed Melville meant what he said.
Although, of course, Rathbone had only Melville's word for it that he had actually tried to approach her. Perhaps he had failed in courage when it came to the moment.
"Have you any idea whatever what caused Mr. Melville's extraordinary behavior, sir?" Sacheverall asked, his fair eyebrows raised, his whole stance conveying bewilderment.
"No idea at all," Lambert said, shaking his head. "Can't begin to understand it. Makes no sense."
"Not to me," Sacheverall agreed. "Unless there are things we do not know about Mr. Killian Melville____________________"
Rathbone rose to his feet.
Sacheverall waved at him airily. "Your witness, Sir Oliver." He smiled, knowing