Once more Mary received from him a summons, and once more, considerably
against her liking, obeyed. She was less disinclined to go this time,
however, for she felt not a little curious about the ring.

"I want you to come back to the house," he said, abruptly, the moment
she entered his room.

For such a request Mary was not prepared. Even since the ring was
found, so long a time had passed that she never expected to hear from
the house again. But Tom was now so much better, and Letty so much like
her former self, that, if Mrs. Redmain had asked her, she might perhaps
have consented.

"Mr. Redmain," she answered, "you must see that I can not do so at your
desire."

"Oh, rubbish! humbug!" he returned, with annoyance. "Don't fancy I am
asking you to go fiddle-faddling about my wife again: I don't see how
you _can_ do that, after the way she has used you! But I have reasons
for wanting to have you within call. Go to Mrs. Perkin. I won't take a
refusal."

"I can not do it, Mr. Redmain," said Mary; "the thing is impossible."
And she turned to leave the room.

"Stop, stop!" cried Mr. Redmain, and jumped from his chair to prevent
her.

He would not have succeeded had not Mewks met her in the doorway full
in the face. She had to draw back to avoid him, and the man, perceiving
at once how things were, closed the door the moment he entered, and
stood with his back against it.

"He's in the drawing-room, sir," said Mewks.

A scarcely perceptible sign of question was made by the master, and
answered in kind by the man.

"Show him here directly," said Mr. Redmain. Then turning to Mary, "Go
out that way, Miss Marston, if you will go," he said, and pointed to
the dressing-room.

Mary, without a suspicion, obeyed; but, just as she discovered that the
door into the bedroom beyond was locked, she heard the door behind her
locked also. She turned, and knocked.

"Stay where you are," said Mr. Redmain, in a low but imperative voice.
"I can not let you out till this gentleman is gone. You must hear what
passes: I want you for a witness."

Bewildered and annoyed, Mary stood motionless in the middle of the
room, and presently heard a man, whose voice seemed not quite strange
to her, greet Mr. Redmain like an old friend. The latter made a slight
apology for having sent for him to his study--claiming the privilege,
he said, of an invalid, who could not for a time have the pleasure of
meeting him either at the club or at his w