On the instant Mr. Manley saw himself discharging this unpleasant but important duty with intelligence and tact, and he said readily: "I was thinking of doing so, and now that I know the lying rascal's name I can do it at once. The sooner this kind of thing is stopped the better."
"Thank you, sir," said Hutchings, and with a sigh of relief he left the room.
He had reached the top of the stairs when the door of Mr. Manley's room opened; he appeared on the threshold and said: "Will you send some one to tell William Roper to be here at nine o'clock tonight? And it wouldn't be a bad idea to drop a hint to any one you send that William Roper has got himself into serious trouble."
Mr. Manley thought quickly.
"Very good, sir," said James Hutchings, and he hurried down the stairs.
Mr. Manley did not see Olivia at once, for she was still in the pavilion in the East wood. But as soon as she returned, he sent a message by Holloway to her, that he wished to see her on important business. Holloway brought word that she would see him at once.
He found her in her sitting-room, gazing out of the window, and she turned quickly at his entrance with inquiring eyes.
"It's a rather unpleasant business, and the sooner it's dealt with the better," said Mr. Manley in a
