"No one, in a sense, except that Sir Charles Dyke may feel inclined to prosecute you." "For what, Mr. Bruce?" This emancipated servant girl was not such a simpleton as she looked. It was necessary to frighten her and at the same time to force her to admit the facts with reference to her sensational flight from Wensley House. "You must know," he said, "that Sir Charles Dyke can proceed against you in the County Court to recover wages in lieu of notice, and this would be far from pleasant for you in your new surroundings." "Yes, I know that. But why should Sir Charles Dyke, or you, or any other gentleman, want to destroy a poor girl's prospects in that fashion?" "Surely, you must feel that some explanation is due to us for your extraordinary behavior?" "No, I don't feel a bit like it." "But why did you go away?" "To suit myself." "Could you not have given notice? Why was it necessary to create a further scandal in addition to the disappearance of your unfortunate mistress?" "I am sorry for that. It was thoughtless, I admit. If I had to act over again I should have done differently. But what does it matter now?" "It matters this much--that the police must be informed of your existence, as they are searching for you, believing that you are in some way mixed up with Lady Dyke's death." The girl started violently, and she flushed, rather with anger than alarm, Bruce thought, as he watched her narrowly. "The police, indeed," she snorted; "what have the police to do with me? A nice thing you're saying, Mr. Bruce." "I am merely telling you the naked truth." "All right. Tell them. I don't care a pin for them or you. Have you anything else to say, because I wish to join my friends?" The girl's language and attitude mystified him more than any preceding feature of this remarkable investigation. She was, of course, far better educated than he had imagined, and the difference between the hysterical witness at the coroner's inquiry and this pert, self-possessed young woman was phenomenal. Rather than risk an open rupture, the barrister temporized. "If you are anxious to quarrel with me, by all means do so," he said; "but that was not my motive in speaking to you here to-night." Miss le Marchant shot a suspicious glance at him. "Then what was your motive," she said. "Chiefly to reassure my friend, your former master, concerning you; and, perhaps, to learn the cause of your very strange conduct." "Why should Sir Charles bother his head about me?" "As I have told you. Because of the coincidence between your departure and Lady--" "Oh yes, I know that." Then she added testily: "I was a fool not to manage differently." "So you refuse me an explanation?" "No, I don't. I have no reason to do so. I came in for some money, and as I have longed all my life to be an actress I could not wait an hour, a moment, before I--before I--" "Before you tried to gratify your impulse." "Yes, that is what I wanted to say."