148

XVI. THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 159

XVII. PART OF THE TRUTH 169

XVIII. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT 180

XIX. THE CLUE LEADS TO LONDON 190

XX. MANY A SLIP 'TWIXT CUP AND LIP 201

XXI. A STORY OF THE PAST 212

XXII. OLGA'S EVIDENCE 223

XXIII. MARK DANE 233

XXIV. A RAT IN A CORNER 245

XXV. A CATASTROPHE 259

XXVI. THE END OF THE TROUBLE 272

CHAPTER I

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Two old ladies sat in the corner of the drawing-room. The younger--a
colonial cousin of the elder--was listening eagerly to gossip which
dealt with English society in general, and Rickwell society in
particular. They presumably assisted in the entertainment of the
children already gathered tumultuously round the Christmas tree,
provided by Mr. Morley; but Mrs. Parry's budget of scandal was too
interesting to permit the relaxing of Mrs. McKail's attention.

"Ah yes," said Mrs. Parry, a hatchet-faced dame with a venomous tongue
and a retentive memory, "Morley's fond of children, although he has none
of his own."

"But those three pretty little girls?" said Mrs. McKail, who was fat,
fair, and considerably over forty.

"Triplets," replied the other, sinking her voice. "The only case of
triplets I have met with, but not his children. No, Mrs. Morley was a
widow with triplets and money. Morley married her for the last, and had
to take the first as part of the bargain. I don't deny but what he does
his duty by the three."

Mrs. McKail's keen grey eyes wander to the fat, rosy little man who
laughingly struggled amidst a bevy of children, the triplets included.
"He seems fond of them," said she, nodding.

"Seems!" emphasised Mrs. Parry shrewdly. "Ha! I don't trust the man. If
he were all he seems, would his wife's face wear that expression? No,
don't tell me."

Mrs. Morley was a tall, lean, serious woman, dressed in sober grey. She
certainly looked careworn, and appeared to participate in the
festivities more as a duty than for the sake of amusement. "He is said
to be a good