"How do you know, then, that this name is assumed?"
"Because I happen to know the Dudleigh family, and this man does not belong to it. I never saw him before."
"There are more Dudleighs in the world than the family you speak of."
"He is an adventurer," said Wiggins. "You know nothing about him. I believe his name is false, as he himself is false. Does he not pretend to be the son of Sir Lionel?"
"No; he says that he is only a distant relation to Sir Lionel."
"He is no relation whatever," said Wiggins. "You are allowing yourself to be led astray by a man of whom you know nothing--a designing villain, an adventurer."
"It is strange that you should apply such terms to a man of whom you yourself acknowledge that you know nothing. But, at any rate," continued Edith, with strong emphasis, "_he knows you_. It is this knowledge that gives him the power of passing through those gates which you shut against me; what that knowledge may be you yourself know best."
"He must," said Edith, "for the simple reason that you dare not keep him out."
Wiggins looked at her in silence for some time.
"It is a terrible ordeal for me," said he at last, in a slow, measured tone, "to talk with you. You seem to me like one who is mad; but it is the madness of utter ignorance. You do not know. Oh, how you tempt me to tell you all! But I can not, I can not. My lips are sealed as yet. But I will say no more on that. I will ask you one question only. It is this: Can you not see with your own eyes that this man is nothing more than a mere adventurer?"
"An adventurer!" repeated Edith, indignantly. "It ill becomes one like you to use such a word as that. For what are you yourself? Lieutenant Dudleigh is a gentleman; and though I have only known him for a short time, I am happy in calling him my friend. I will tolerate no abuse of him. Why do you not say this to his face? If he is what you say, why do you allow him to come here? An adventurer? Why, that is the very name I apply in all my thoughts to you!"
A look of anguish came over the face of Wiggins. He trembled violently, but with an effort mastered his feelings. Evidently what he said was true, and to him it was a severe ordeal to carry on a conversation with Edith. Her scorn, her anger, and her hate all flamed forth so vehemently that it was hard to endure.