A VALIANT IGNORANCE

A

VALIANT IGNORANCE

A Novel


BY

MARY ANGELA DICKENS

AUTHOR OF “CROSS CURRENTS,” “A MERE CYPHER,” ETC.

IN THREE VOLUMES

VOL. III.

London
MACMILLAN & CO.
AND NEW YORK
1894

Chapter I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV,XV,XVI.

{1}

A VALIANT IGNORANCE

CHAPTER I

It was not generally known among hisacquaintances that Marston Loring had comeback from Africa accompanied by a newfriend; this new friend was not introducedby Loring at either of his clubs, and yet thetwo met at least once every day. He was aman named Alfred Ramsay; a small, insignificant-lookingman, with sandy hair, whichhad turned—in streaks—the peculiar greywhich such hair assumes, and small, dulleyes that never seemed to move in his head.

It was nearly three o’clock on the afternoonfollowing that on which Loring hadcalled on Mrs. Romayne, and he and hisnew friend were together in his chambersin the Temple. Mr. Ramsay had been thereseveral times before, and he was sitting nowin an arm-chair in the sunshine with an air{2}of total want of interest in his surroundings,which was characteristic of him. Loringwas walking up and down the room thoughtfully.

“Romayne!” observed Ramsay. “Nota particularly good name on the market! Itbelonged to a first-class swindler twenty yearsago—William Romayne. This young gentlemanis no connexion, I suppose?”

The remark broke a short silence, andLoring stopped in his walk and leant backagainst the mantelpiece as he answered.

“Yes,” he said tersely, “he’s his son.He has never been in his father’s line, though—Idoubt whether he knows anything abouthim, though it’s an odd thing that heshouldn’t! As to the name, why, it’s an oldstory, and won’t affect any one nowadays,I take it. The point is that he has thisrespectable capital, and is—exceedingly keenon increasing it.”

There was a dryness in Loring’s voice ashe said the last words, which implied a greatdeal more than did his words. And it wasapparently to that significance that the otherman replied.

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