the tapestry,
which concealed a small door, through which she had silently stolen to
listen. She advanced calmly. "I have heard all your conversation with my
mother," she declared with flashing eyes, "and not one word of it is
true. I am the daughter of Lemuel Krill."

"You'll find that hard to prove in the face of your birth certificate
and your mother's marriage to Captain Jessop, your father."

"It will all be put right."

"Quite so, and Miss Norman will get the money."

"That girl--never!" cried Maud, fiercely. She looked very like her
mother at the moment, but the more angry she grew the calmer became Mrs.
Krill, who kept darting anxious glances at her daughter. "And you
sha'n't take my mother away," she cried threateningly.

"I don't want to make a scandal in the neighborhood," said Hurd, taking
a small whistle from his pocket, "but if I blow this my man out there
will call the nearest policeman, and then--"

"There is no need," interrupted Mrs. Krill, who had recovered her
self-control. "Maud, come over beside me. On what grounds, Mr. Hurd, do
you accuse me of the crime? I was not in town on--"

"Oh, yes, you were, Mrs. Jessop. Pash can prove that you were in his
office and took the brooch left by Tray from the table. I don't know
where you stopped on that night--"

"At Judson's Hotel, Strand," cried Maud, placing herself beside her
mother, "and anyone there can prove that my mother and myself were
within doors after we came from Terry's Theatre, where we spent the
evening. As my father--for Krill _was_ my father--was killed after
twelve, and we were both in bed in one room before then, your accusation
falls to the ground. My mother was with me, and she did not leave the
whole evening. Next day we went to Christchurch."

Hurd was rather staggered by the positive way in which the young woman
spoke. But the facts were too plain for him to hesitate. "I must trouble
you to come along with me," he said. "No, don't go!"

"To put on my cloak and hat?" urged Mrs. Krill. "I'll come quietly
enough. I don't want a scandal. I am sure when the magistrate hears what
I have to say he will let me go free."

"I trust so. But you must not leave the room. Matilda will, no doubt,
bring your things."

Mrs. Krill touched the electric button of the bell, while Maud walked up
and down, deathly white and fuming. "Mr. Hay shall see to this," she
said in a cold rage.

"Mr. Hay will have quite enough to do to look after him