my heart I honor you for it."

Mrs. Montague did not make any acknowledgment or reply. She had dropped
her head upon her hands and seemed to be lost in her own unhappy
reflections.

Mr. Graves and Mr. Corbin conferred together for a few moments, and then
the former remarked:

"Mrs. Montague will, of course, wish to give these subjects some
consideration, and meanwhile I will go to consult with Mr. Cutler
regarding his interest in the matter."

He left immediately, and Mr. Corbin and Mr. Rider fell into general
conversation, while Ray and Mona withdrew to the lower end of the
drawing-room, where they could talk over matters unheard.

Mr. Graves was gone about an hour, and then returned accompanied by Mr.
Justin Cutler himself.

After discussing at some length the question of Mrs. Montague being
brought to trial he finally agreed to concur in the decision of the
others.

"For Miss Dinsmore's sake I will waive all proceedings," he remarked,
"but were it not for the feelings of that young lady," he added, sternly,
"I would press the matter to the extent of the law."

Mrs. Montague shuddered at his relentless tone, but Mona thanked him with
a smile for the concession.

Mrs. Montague then consented to abide by the conditions made by the
lawyers, and, at their command, brought forth her valuable store of
jewels to have them appraised and used to indemnify those who had
suffered loss through her crimes.

Ray laid out what he thought would serve to make Mr. Cutler's loss good,
selected what stones he thought belonged to his own firm, and then it was
decided that the real crescents should be given to Mrs. Vanderheck if she
wished them, or they should be sold and the money given to her.

Mrs. Montague was then informed that she must at once surrender all
deeds, bonds, bank stock, etc., which she had received from the Dinsmore
estate, and would be expected to leave the city before noon of the next
day.

She curtly replied that she would require only three hours, and that she
would leave the house before sunset. The house, having been purchased
with Mr. Dinsmore's money, would henceforth belong to Mona, therefore she
and Ray decided to remain where they were until her departure and see
that everything was properly secured afterward.

Having decided that these matters should not be made public, nothing
could be done with Louis Hamblin, and Mr. Rider, much against his
inclination, was obliged to forego making the arre