had made plans for a season of
holidays on that same yacht, as soon as the repairs were made. Colonel
McVeigh tossed the book indignantly on the table.

"Thank you, Madame! Captain Masterson, this is the most outrageous
thing I ever knew an officer to be guilty of! You have presumed to
suspect a lady in my house--the guest of your superior officer, and
you shall answer to me for it! Mr. Pierson, you are no longer under
suspicion here, sir. And you," he added, turning to the Confederate
secret agent, "can report at once to your chief that spies are not
needed on the McVeigh plantation."

"Colonel McVeigh, if you had seen what I saw--"

"Madame Caron's word would have been sufficient," interrupted McVeigh,
without looking at him. And Judithe held out the letter.

"I am quite willing you should see what he saw," she said, with a
curious smile. "He saw me, after the arrival of Mr. Pierson, seal an
envelope leaving him in ignorance of its contents. The seal is yet
unbroken--will you read it?"

"You do not suppose I require proof of your innocence?" he asked,
refusing the letter, and looking at her fondly as he dare in the
presence of the others.

"But I owe it to myself to offer the proof now," she insisted, "and
at the same time I shall ask Mr. Pierson to offer himself for personal
search if Captain Masterson yet retains suspicion of his honesty;" she
glanced towards Pierson, who smiled slightly, and bowed without
speaking. Then she turned to Delaven, who had been a surprised
onlooker of the scene.

"Dr. Delaven, in the cause of justice, may I ask you to examine the
contents of this letter?" and she tore open the envelope and offered
it.

"Anything in the wide world to serve you, Madame la Marquise," he
answered, with a shade more than usual of deference in his manner, as
he took it. "Are the contents to be considered professionally, that
is, confidentially?"

She had taken Evilena by the hand, bowed slightly to the group, and
had moved to the door, when he spoke. Monroe, who had watched every
movement as he stood there in a fever of suspense for her sake, drew a
breath of relief as she replied:

"Oh, no! Be kind enough to read it aloud, or Captain Masterson may
include you in the dangerous intrigues here," and, smiling still, she
passed out with Evilena to the lawn.

But a few seconds elapsed, when a perfect shout of laughter came from
the library. The special detective did not share in it, for he thrust
hi