room, looking very
grave and thoughtful.

Mona's face lighted as she saw him.

"Ray, come here, please, and plead for me," she said, turning her earnest
face toward him; and he saw at once that her heart was very much set upon
her object, whatever it might be.

CHAPTER XXI.

MRS. MONTAGUE TELLS HER STORY.

"What is it, Mona?" Ray inquired, as he went to her side. "You may be
very sure that I will second your wishes if they are wise and do not
interfere in any way with your interests."

Mona briefly repeated what she had already proposed to the lawyers, and
Ray immediately responded that it was also his wish and his father's that
as far as they were concerned all public proceedings against Mrs.
Montague should be suspended.

"Come with me to another room where we can converse more freely," he
added, "for I have a proposition to make to you in my father's name. Mr.
Rider," raising his voice and addressing the detective, "will you allow
Mrs. Montague to remain alone with Miss Dinsmore for a little while, as I
wish to confer with you upon a matter of importance?"

The detective took a swift survey of the room before answering. It was
evident that he had no intention of allowing his captive to escape him
now after all his previous efforts to secure her.

"Yes," he replied, "I will go with you into the hall, if that will do."

He knew that in the hall he should be able to keep his eyes upon both
doors of the drawing-room, and no one could pass in and out without his
knowing it, while there was no other way of egress.

The four gentlemen accordingly withdrew, thus leaving Mona and Mrs.
Montague by themselves.

Mona seated herself by a window, and as far as possible from the woman,
for she shrank with the greatest aversion from her, while she felt that
her own presence must be oppressive and full of reproach to her.

But the woman's curiosity was for the moment greater than her anxiety or
remorse, and after a brief silence, she abruptly inquired:

"How did that detective find that box of diamonds?"

"He did not find them. I accidentally discovered them," Mona replied.

"You? What were you prowling about in my room for?" crossly demanded Mrs.
Montague.

"I was simply looking for a pair of scissors which I had left there the
day before we went South. But why did you lock me in the room, for I
suppose it was you?"

"Because I was desperate," was the defiant response. "I had just learned
how you had e