I do not know that I should weep if
I never had that pleasure again."

Keith bowed.

"I think it probable. You may, hereafter, have even less cause for joy
at meeting me."

"Impossible," said Wickersham.

Keith put his hand on a chair, and prepared to sit down, motioning
Wickersham to take the other seat.

"The lady you are waiting for will not be here this evening," he said,
"and it may be that our interview will be protracted."

Wickersham passed by the last words.

"What lady? Who says I am waiting for a lady?"

"You said so at the door just now. Besides, I say so."

"Oh! You were listening, were you?" he sneered.

"Yes; I heard it."

"How do you know she will not be here? What do you know about it?"

"I know that she will no more be here than the Countess Torelli will,"
said Keith. He was looking Wickersham full in the face and saw that the
shot went home.

"What do you want?" demanded Wickersham. "Why are you here? Are you
after money or a row?"

"I want you--I want you, first, to secure all of Mrs. Wentworth's money
that you have had, or as much as you can."

Wickersham was so taken aback that his dark face turned almost white,
but he recovered himself quickly.

"You are a madman, or some one has been deceiving you. You are the
victim of a delusion."

Keith, with his eyes fastened on him, shook his head.

"Oh, no; I am not."

A look of perplexed innocence came over Wickersham's face.

"Yes, you are," he said, in an almost friendly tone. "You are the victim
of some hallucination. I give you my word, I do not know even what you
are talking about. I should say you were engaged in blackmail--" The
expression in his eyes changed like a flash, but something in Keith's
eyes, as they met his, caused him to add, "if I did not know that you
were a man of character. I, too, am a man of character, Mr. Keith. I
want you to know it." Keith's eyes remained calm and cold as steel.
Wickersham faltered. "I am a man of means--of large means. I am worth--.
My balance in bank this moment is--is more than you will ever be worth.
Now I want to ask you why, in the name of Heaven, should I want anything
to do with Mrs. Wentworth's money?"

"If you have such a balance in bank," said Keith, "it will simplify my
mission, for you will doubtless be glad to return Mr. Wentworth's money
that you have had from Mrs. Wentworth. I happen to know that his money
will come in very conveniently for Norman just now."

"Oh, y