--and it was from these
statements that she finally received an inspiration.

Miss Templeton saw deeper than Shiel--it had always been her custom to
read between the lines. "Now," she argued, "if Kelson were so easily
influenced by Lilian Rosenberg, who was young and attractive, it was
almost a _sine qua non_ that he was in love with her," and as marriage
was one of the eventualities strictly forbidden to the trio in the
compact--"they must neither quarrel nor marry," Shiel had
exclaimed--here was their chance. Kelson must marry Lilian Rosenberg,
and by so doing, break the compact and overwhelm the trio in some
sudden and dire catastrophe. But the marriage must take place within
six months' time. How could that be arranged? Could Lilian Rosenberg
be bribed or persuaded into it? for of course Miss Templeton being a
woman--albeit an old maid--had at once divined that Lilian Rosenberg
was in love with Shiel--that she did not care a straw for Kelson, and
that to marry the latter she would need some very strong inducement.
And the only inducement she could think of was Lilian's genuine love
for Shiel.

"Yes, it is upon this one weakness of Lilian's that I must work," she
said to herself. "It is the only way I can see of saving Gladys."

Resolved at any rate to experiment upon these lines, she lost no time
in seeking out Lilian Rosenberg, who received her very coldly and was
distinctly rude.

"What have my affairs to do with you? Who sent you here?" she
demanded.

"Humanity!" Miss Templeton replied. "I have come entirely of my own
accord to plead the cause of one who is seriously ill--possibly
dying!"

"Seriously ill!--possibly dying!" Lilian Rosenberg said incredulously,
nevertheless, turning pale. "Mr. Davenport is surely not as bad as all
that!"

"When did you see him last?" Miss Templeton asked.

"A fortnight ago," Lilian Rosenberg replied. "I have been inundated
with work the past two weeks."

"Then you've not heard that he's had a relapse," Miss Templeton said,
"and is now in a most critical condition! He has something on his
mind, and the doctor assures me that whilst he is still worrying over
that something, there is no chance of his recovery."

"Do you know what it is--the something?" Lilian Rosenberg asked, the
white on her cheeks intensifying.

"Yes!" Miss Templeton said slowly, and trying to appear calm. "He is
very worried about Miss Martin's engagement to Mr. Hamar."

"And why, pray?"

"Becaus