Her answer
was the putting on of her cloak for a visit to the occultist's parlors.

The two women faced each other like hostile champions in a truce.
Elizabeth's first aversion to the other had been swept away in the
flood of righteous jealousy created by the Scarlett episode. Madame le
Claire's unreasoning feeling of injury had been mitigated by the same
baleful affair, and her sense of justice fought for Elizabeth; but no
two women loving the same man ever met without antagonism.

"I thank you," said Miss Waldron, "for this invitation. I think you
owe me the benefit of such light as you can give on some--some
things--which are dark to me."

A little angry flush rose to Madame le Claire's cheek at the tone in
which the first part of this speech was uttered. It passed away, and
was replaced by a gentler expression at the doleful and faltering
conclusion.

"I owe you," she answered, "more in the way of knowledge than you
imagine. I expect other visitors. Will you step into this little rear
room? I may be called away from you for a while, but I shall return."

"I need not tell you," said Elizabeth, "how vitally important it is to
me to know whether there was anything in your mesmeric influence
over--Mr. Brassfield--which would cause him to do--things unworthy of
him--as he did. Did you impose any such thing on him by your
power?--could you have been so cruel?"

"Before I answer that," replied Clara, "there are many things to tell.
When did you first meet Mr. Amidon.--Brassfield, I mean?"

"Why do you call him by that name?" cried Elizabeth. "That is what
Mrs. Hunter called him! One moment he told me he knew her; the next,
he denied it to her face. What is there in this matter of names?"

Madame le Claire looked with a fixed and unwavering calmness at Miss
Waldron, and answered in a tone of perfect reassurance.

"There is nothing in it which can't be easily explained. You have
known Mr. Brassfield a long time?"

"Since I was seventeen. He did my aunt and me a great favor, which
lifted us out of poverty--about some land we had, and oil
discoveries--I went away soon after this, but he has always been very
kind and good--until--until this----"

Elizabeth walked to the window and looked out for a long time, during
which Madame le Claire regarded her fixedly and tried not to hate her.

"Did he tell you much of his past?"

"No, he said it was a very ordinary past, and that he would tell us all
about i