«
    Mr Lyon moved his lips silently.
    »And suppose I had reason to suspect that there would be some great
advantage for her if the law knew who was her father?«
    »Sir!« said Mr Lyon, shaken out of all reticence, »I would not conceal it.
She believes herself to be my daughter. But I will bear all things rather than
deprive her of a right. Nevertheless I will appeal to the pity of any
fellow-man, not to thrust himself between her and me, but to let me disclose the
truth to her myself.«
    »All in good time,« said Christian. »We must do nothing rash. Then Miss Lyon
is Annette's child?«
    The minister shivered as if the edge of a knife had been drawn across his
hand. But the tone of the question, by the very fact that it intensified his
antipathy to Christian, enabled him to collect himself for what must be simply
the endurance of a painful operation. After a moment or two he said more coolly,
»It is true, sir. Her mother became my wife. Proceed with any statement which
may concern my duty.«
    »I have no more to say than this: If there's a prize that the law might hand
over to Bycliffe's daughter, I am much mistaken if there isn't a lawyer who'll
take precious good care to keep the law hoodwinked. And that lawyer is Mat
Jermyn. Why, my good sir, if you've been taking Jermyn into your confidence,
you've been setting the fox to keep off the weasel. It strikes me that when you
were made a little anxious about those articles of poor Bycliffe's, you put
Jermyn on making inquiries of me. Eh? I think I am right?«
    »I do not deny it.«
    »Ah! - it was very well you did, for by that means I've found out that he's
got hold of some secrets about Bycliffe which he means to stifle. Now, sir, if
you desire any justice for your daughter, step-daughter, I should say - don't so
much as wink to yourself before Jermyn; and if you've got any papers or things
of that sort that may come in evidence, as these confounded rescals the lawyers
call it, clutch them tight, for if they get into Jermyn's hands they may soon
fly up the chimney. Have I said enough?«
    »I had not purposed any further communication with Mr Jermyn, sir;