“By certain things that he let drop now and then, I had no doubt that the man was engaged in every kind of villainy and wrong-doing,” was Mrs. Morrice’s answer. “And now tell me a little about Miss Buckley’s attitude towards him when she found out his real character. You say she was in love with him; did she break off all relations with him, and forbid him the house?” “It was the dearest wish of her heart to do so,” replied the unhappy woman. “For my sake she forbore, as she feared that if she angered him it might make things worse for me. And, besides, her place was a useful meeting ground when it might have been too risky for him to come to Deanery Street, in such things as handing over money, for instance.” “I quite understand. And you are positive that, although she knew about the blackmailing and the disposal of your jewellery and the fraud of Archie Brookes, she was ignorant of the robberies?” “Quite positive. They were very particular about that. I think they were a bit afraid of what she might do, if she had an inkling. She is a strong-minded woman in many respects, and she might have determined to go to Mr. Morrice and tell him the whole truth to save me from becoming an actual criminal.” There was nothing more to be said. The confession was signed. Lane, punctilious in everything he did, gave her a copy and left the flat. Shortly before dinner-time he went to Deanery Street to communicate the result of his interview to the financier. He found him and Rosabelle together, and was invited to speak before them both, Morrice having no desire to keep anything from his pretty niece in a matter in which her interest was as keen as his own. Of course, both had guessed that the pseudo Archie Brookes was, in all probability, Mrs. Morrice’s son, and that there was some shameful secret connected with the relationship. But they were not prepared for the terrible disclosures now made by Lane. It was a great blow to the proud man to learn that the woman who had borne his name and done the honours of his house with such a calm and gracious dignity, was the widow of a convicted felon, that she had involved him in her disgraceful past. He turned sternly to his niece. “From this day, never let her name be mentioned between us. Let us think of her as one dead to us.” Presently Lane spoke. “This winds up the mystery so far as I am concerned, Mr. Morrice. I shall pay a formal visit to Mr. Croxton and acquaint him with these results; he must, of course, be made aware of them.” Morrice nodded. “Of course. I have no wish to hide my disgrace from him.”