“No; things are getting terribly mixed up, it seems to me. How, when, where did he meet her again, I wonder?” “I have it,” said Isabel. “Lady Ruxley attended the dinner at Dunforth Castle; of course, her companion accompanied her, and they met there. It must have been quite recent, I judge.” “Well, he won’t find her again for a while, that is sure,” returned Mrs. Coolidge, with a savage glitter in her eyes. “Oh, mamma, you look almost as though you would like to kill her!” Isabel exclaimed, in a frightened whisper. “I believe I wish she had died before she ever saw Adrian Dredmond,” she answered, vindictively. “To think that she should win him, while you will only be a baronet’s wife!” Isabel flushed angrily. “Let us go and see how it fares with her now; methinks the proud beauty will be somewhat humbled by this time. But, humbled or not, she will have to stay there until after your marriage, for if Mr. Dredmond should find her now, there would be an end to all your fine plans,” said Mrs. Coolidge, moving toward the draped door. She shoved the heavy bolt, and the two women entered Brownie’s prison. They found her sitting upon the floor, looking pale and wan. The light which they bore blinded her eyes at first so that she could scarcely see, but she arose as they entered and stood in haughty silence before them and, holding the precious casket tightly clasped in her hands behind her. “Well, how do you like your place of retirement? Quiet, isn’t it?” sneered Isabel, while she began to walk about the place as if to examine it. The insulted girl deigned her no reply. “Miss Douglas, I have come to make one more appeal to you. Are you willing to accede to my terms?” “No, madam!” “Will nothing move you? Cannot I persuade you, under any circumstances, to let Isabel retain those jewels a while longer, and you keep silent about them?” “You cannot, madam; there is a limit to human endurance, I have reached that limit.” But scarce were the words spoken when she uttered a cry of pain and dismay. Isabel had glided stealthily around behind her, and with one powerful blow had dashed the casket from her hands. The next instant, and before Brownie could turn to prevent her, she had captured it, and with a low, mocking laugh, glided from the place. With all her spirit roused to battle, Brownie sprang to follow the artful girl, but Mrs. Coolidge barred the way. “No, no, miss, you cannot leave this place to-night; you are in too dangerous a mood,” she said. “What do you mean by detaining me here?” Brownie demanded, almost passionately. “I mean just what I said, that you are too dangerous to be let loose to-night, unless you will solemnly promise not to make any trouble for us.” “You are very much mistaken if you think you can make any such terms with me, Mrs. Coolidge. I do not fear you in the least, and unless you restore my jewels, and let me go at once, I shall make such trouble that you will rue it until your dying day.”