The last was more to himself than to her. But she was already off her horse. The man with the blueprint glared at her, and she passed across the veranda and into the house, where Vance showed her up the big stairs. At the door of his sister's room he paused again and scrutinized. "A killing--by Jove!" he murmured to himself, and then knocked. A dull voice called from within, and he opened. Kate found herself in a big, solemn room, in one corner of which sat an old woman wrapped to the chin in a shawl. The face was thin and bleak, and the eyes that looked at Kate were dull. "This girl--" said Vance. "By Jove, I haven't asked your name, I'm afraid." "Kate Pollard." "Miss Pollard has some news of Terry. I thought it might--interest you, Elizabeth." Kate saw the brief struggle on the face of the old woman. When it passed, her eyes were as dull as ever, but her voice had become husky. "I'm surprised, Vance. I thought you understood--his name is not to be spoken, if you please." "Of course not. Yet I thought--never mind. If you'll step downstairs with me, Miss Pollard, and tell me what--" "Not a step," answered the girl firmly, and she had not moved her eyes from the face of the elder woman. "Not a step with you. What I have to say has got to be told to someone who loves Terry Hollis. I've found that someone. I stick here till I've done talking." Vance Cornish gasped. But Elizabeth opened her eyes, and they brightened--but coldly, it seemed to Kate. "I think I understand," said Elizabeth Cornish gravely. "He has entangled the interest of this poor girl--and sent her to plead for him. Is that so? If it's money he wants, let her have what she asks for, Vance. But I can't talk to her of the boy." "Very well," said Vance, without enthusiasm. He stepped before her. "Will you step this way, Miss Pollard?" "Not a step," she repeated, and deliberately sat down in a chair. "You'd better leave," she told Vance. He considered her in open anger. "If you've come to make a scene, I'll have to let you know that on account of my sister I cannot endure it. Really--" "I'm going to stay here," she echoed, "until I've done talking. I've found the right person. I know that. Tell you what I want? Why, you hate Terry Hollis!" "Hate--him?" murmured Elizabeth. "Nonsense!" cried Vance. "Look at his face, Miss Cornish," said the girl. "Vance, by everything that's sacred, your eyes were positively shrinking. Do you hate--him?" "My dear Elizabeth, if this unknown--" "You'd better leave," interrupted the girl. "Miss Cornish is going to hear me talk." Before he could answer, his sister said calmly: "I think I shall, Vance. I begin to be intrigued." "In the first place," he blurted angrily, "it's something you shouldn't hear--some talk about a murder--" Elizabeth sank back in her chair and closed her eyes. "Ah, coward!" cried Kate Pollard, now on her feet. "Vance, will you leave me for a moment?"