o
amiable, 'that I was the only person who knew----'

And there Mrs. Strangeways paused, as if discreetly.

'Knew? Knew what?'

'Only that you had reason for a little spite against your dear friend.'

'Suppose it was so,' exclaimed Alma, remembering too well her last
conversation with this woman. 'Whatever you knew, or thought you knew,
about me--and it was little enough--you have been making use of it
disgracefully.'

'You say I knew very little,' put in the other, turning a ring upon her
hand; 'but you will admit that it was enough to excite my curiosity.
May I not have taken trouble to learn more?'

'Any amount of trouble would have taught you nothing; there was nothing
to discover. And that you know as well as I do.'

Mrs. Strangeways moved her head, as if in good-natured acquiescence.

'Don't let us be harsh with each other, my dear. We have both had our
worries and trials in consequence of that unfortunate affair. You, I
can see, have gone through a good deal; I assure you, so have I. But
oughtn't you to remember that our misfortunes were caused by the same
person? If I----'

'Your misfortunes are nothing to me. And I shouldn't think you would
care to talk about them.'

'Surely I might say the same to you, my dear Alma? Is there very much
to choose between us?'

Alma flushed with resentment, but had no word ready on her parched
tongue. The other went on in an unbroken flow of mocking good humour.

'We ought to be the best of friends. I haven't the least wish to do you
harm, and nothing would please me better than to gratify your little
feeling against a certain person. I may be able to manage that. Let me
tell you something--of course in the strictest confidence.' Her voice
was playful for a moment. 'I have been trying to find someone--you know
who I mean--who mysteriously disappeared. That interests you, I see.
It's very difficult; such people don't let themselves be dropped upon
by chance a second time. But, do you know, I have something very like a
clue, at last. Yes'--she nodded familiarly--'I have.'

In vain Alma tried to lock her lips.

'What if you find her?'

'Do you forget that someone will very soon be at large again, and that
someone's wife, a very clever woman, counts on deceiving the world as
she deceived _him_?'

'You are sure she _did_ deceive him?'

Mrs. Strangeways laughed.

'You are acute, my dear. You see the puzzle from all sides. But I won't
go into that just now. What