knowing whether she was alive or dead."

"Just so," said Mrs. Catherick, with additional self-possession. "Had
you no other motive?"

I hesitated. The right answer to that question was not easy to find at
a moment's notice.

"If you have no other motive," she went on, deliberately taking off her
slate-coloured mittens, and rolling them up, "I have only to thank you
for your visit, and to say that I will not detain you here any longer.
Your information would be more satisfactory if you were willing to
explain how you became possessed of it. However, it justifies me, I
suppose, in going into mourning. There is not much alteration necessary
in my dress, as you see. When I have changed my mittens, I shall be all
in black."

She searched in the pocket of her gown, drew out a pair of black lace
mittens, put them on with the stoniest and steadiest composure, and
then quietly crossed her hands in her lap.

"I wish you good morning," she said.

The cool contempt of her manner irritated me into directly avowing that
the purpose of my visit had not been answered yet.

"I HAVE another motive in coming here," I said.

"Ah! I thought so," remarked Mrs. Catherick.

"Your daughter's death----"

"What did she die of?"

"Of disease of the heart."

"Yes. Go on."

"Your daughter's death has been made the pretext for inflicting serious
injury on a person who is very dear to me. Two men have been
concerned, to my certain knowledge, in doing that wrong. One of them
is Sir Percival Glyde."

"Indeed!"

I looked attentively to see if she flinched at the sudden mention of
that name. Not a muscle of her stirred--the hard, defiant, implacable
stare in her eyes never wavered for an instant.

"You may wonder," I went on, "how the event of your daughter's death
can have been made the means of inflicting injury on another person."

"No," said Mrs. Catherick; "I don't wonder at all. This appears to be
your affair. You are interested in my affairs. I am not interested in
yours."

"You may ask, then," I persisted, "why I mention the matter in your
presence."

"Yes, I DO ask that."

"I mention it because I am determined to bring Sir Percival Glyde to
account for the wickedness he has committed."

"What have I to do with your determination?"

"You shall hear. There are certain events in Sir Percival's past life
which it is necessary for my purpose to be fully acquainted with. YOU
know them--and for that reason I come