Montague's residence for Mona, he found another
carriage waiting at the door, and it was just at this moment that Mona
made her strange discovery in the woman's bedroom.

"Mr. Corbin's carriage," Ray murmured to himself as he alighted and went
up the steps. "I wonder if Mr. Graves is with him, and if Mrs. Montague
has returned. I hope she has not made matters unpleasant for Mona."

He rang the bell and was admitted by Mary, who wondered how many more
times she would be obliged to run to the door that morning.

"Is Miss--Miss Richards through with her packing?" the young man
inquired, but having almost betrayed Mona's identity, which, in
accordance with the advice of the lawyers, they were not quite ready
to do yet.

"She's still up stairs, sir," the girl replied. "I'll step up and tell
her that you have come. Perhaps you'll wait in the reception-room, sir,
as Mrs. Montague has just come in and has callers in the drawing-room."

"Certainly," Ray answered, and was about to follow her thither, when he
heard his name spoken, and turning, saw Mr. Graves beckoning to him from
the doorway of the drawing-room.

"Come in here," he said; "we shall need you in this business," and Ray
knew that Mrs. Montague was about to be interviewed upon various matters
of importance.

"Very well," he replied, then turning to Mary, he added: "You may tell
Miss Richards that she need not hurry. I will call you again when I am
ready to go."

He then followed the lawyer into the drawing-room and the door was shut.

"There is something queer going on in there," she muttered. "Mrs.
Montague seemed all worked up over something, and those two men looked as
glum as parsons at a funeral. There is cook's bell again, and Miss Ruth
must wait," she concluded, impatiently, as a ring came up from the lower
regions, and then she went slowly and reluctantly down stairs again.

CHAPTER XVIII.

SOME INTERESTING DISCOVERIES.

Upon entering Mrs. Montague's beautiful drawing-room, Ray found, as he
had expected, that Mr. Corbin was there also, and he at once surmised the
nature of the lawyer's business.

Mrs. Montague gave a start of surprise as she saw him, and lost some of
her color; then recovering herself, she arose with a charming smile, and
went forward to greet him.

Ray thought she looked much older than when he had seen her before, for
there were dark circles under her eyes, with crows' feet at their
corners, and wrinkles on her fore