you now that he is Mr. Scarlett Trent,
millionaire, with the odour of civilisation clinging to him, and the
respectability of wealth. But I, too, have seen him, and I have heard
him talk. He has helped me to see the other man--half-savage, splendidly
masterful, forging his way through to success by sheer pluck and
unswerving obstinacy. Listen, I admire your Mr. Trent! He is a man,
and when he speaks to you you know that he was born with a destiny. But
there is the other side. Do you think that he would let a man's life
stand in his way? Not he! He'd commit a murder, or would have done in
those days, as readily as you or I would sweep away a fly. And it
is because he is that sort of man that I want to know more about my
father's death."

"You are talking of serious things, Miss Wendermott," Mr. Cuthbert said
gravely.

"Why not? Why shirk them? My father's death was a serious thing, wasn't
it? I want an account of it from the only man who can render it."

"When you disclose yourself to Mr. Trent I should say that he would
willingly give you--"

She interrupted him, coming over and standing before him, leaning
against his table, and looking him in the face.

"You don't understand. I am not going to disclose myself! You will reply
to Mr. Trent that the daughter of his old partner is not in need of
charity, however magnificently tendered. You understand?"

"I understand, Miss Wendermott."

"As to her name or whereabouts you are not at liberty to disclose them.
You can let him think, if you will, that she is tarred with the same
brush as those infamous and hypocritical relatives of hers who sent her
father out to die."

Mr. Cuthbert shook his head.

"I think, young lady, if you will allow me to say so that you are making
a needless mystery of the matter, and further, that you are embarking
upon what will certainly prove to be a wild-goose chase. We had news
of your father not long before his sad death, and he was certainly in
ill-health."

She set her lips firmly together, and there was a look in her face which
alone was quite sufficient to deter Mr. Cuthbert from further argument.

"It may be a wild-goose chase," she said. "It may not. At any rate
nothing will alter my purpose. Justice sleeps sometimes for very many
years, but I have an idea that Mr. Scarlett Trent may yet have to face a
day of settlement."

* * * * *

She walked through the crowded streets homewa