ou come from Wentworth, do you?" demanded Wickersham.

"No; from Mrs. Wentworth," returned Keith.

"Did she send you?" Wickersham shot at Keith a level glance from under
his half-closed lids.

"I offered to come. She knows I am here."

"What proof have I of that?"

"My statement."

"And suppose I do not please to accept your statement?"

Keith leant a little toward him over the table.

"You will accept it."

"He must hold a strong hand," thought Wickersham. He shifted his ground
suddenly. "What, in the name of Heaven, are you driving at, Keith? What
are you after? Come to the point."

"I will," said Keith, rising. "Let us drop our masks; they are not
becoming to you, and I am not accustomed to them. I have come for
several things: one of them is Mrs. Wentworth's money, which you got
from her under false pretences." He spoke slowly, and his eyes were
looking in the other's eyes.

Wickersham sprang to his feet.

"What do you mean, sir?" he demanded, with an oath. "I have already told
you--! I will let no man speak to me in that way."

Keith did not stir. Wickersham paused to get his breath.

"You would not dare to speak so if a lady's name were not involved, and
you did not know that I cannot act as I would, for fear of
compromising her."

An expression of contempt swept across Keith's face.

"Sit down," he said. "I will relieve your mind. Mrs. Wentworth is quite
ready to meet any disclosures that may come. I have her power of
attorney. She has gone to her husband and told him everything."

Wickersham's face whitened, and he could not repress the look of mingled
astonishment and fear that stole into his eyes.

"Now, having given you that information," continued Keith, "I say that
you stole Mrs. Wentworth's money, and I have come to recover it, if
possible."

Wickersham rose to his feet. With a furious oath he sprang for his
overcoat, and, snatching it up, began to feel for the pocket.

"I'll blow your brains out."

"No, you will not," said Keith, "and I advise you to make less noise. An
officer is outside, and I have but to whistle to place you where nothing
will help you. A warrant is out for your arrest, and I have the proof to
convict you."

Wickersham, with his coat still held in one hand, and the other in the
pocket, shot a glance at Keith. He was daunted by his coolness.

"You must think you hold a strong hand," he said. "But I have known them
to fail."

Keith bowed.

"No doubt. Thi