"Yes. I did not speak truly," stammered Isabella, "but I could not act otherwise. It was to save a certain person." "Dr. Etwald?" "No, not Dr. Etwald, but the person who stole the devil-stick." "Ah! you know who committed the first of the crimes," cried Jen, seizing the young girl's arm. "Confess. It was Dr. Etwald who stole the wand of sleep." "No! no! It was--it was--" "Dido?" "Not Dido. Oh!" cried Isabella, in a tone of anguish, "it was my mother." CHAPTER XIX. FURTHER EVIDENCE. Major Jen recoiled from the young girl in amazement. "Your mother," he muttered, hardly believing the evidence of his own senses. "Your mother stole the devil-stick?" "Yes; but she did not know what she was doing!" Jen frowned. "That is impossible!" he said, positively. "Quite impossible!" "No! no! Wait! Listen!" said Isabella, much agitated. "I told you falsehoods before to shield my mother. Now that I know that you have discovered so much, that you are bent on punishing Dr. Etwald, I must tell you the truth, so that she may not be dragged down to ruin. But not here--not here: my mother may see us--and Dido," the girl shuddered. "Dido, of whom I am afraid. Come with me, major. Quickly!" Without glancing toward the house Isabella ran down a secluded path which led through a kind of shrubbery to the flower-garden, and then disappeared into a light cane summer-house, constructed in the Chinese fashion, and which was overgrown with greenery. Major Jen followed her as rapidly as his more mature age would permit him; and as he hastened, he felt a wild thrill of delight that at last he was about to hear the truth. That it should be told to him by so unexpected a person as Isabella Dallas, was not the least strange part of this strange affair. "Major," she said, when somewhat out of breath he had taken his seat beside her in the summer-house, "although I relate what inculpates my mother, it is to save her that I do so. Both she and I are in a net woven by Dido." "Ah! poor Maurice always mistrusted that negress!" "He was right to do so. Oh, you do not know what a terrible woman she is. For years both I and my mother have been under her influence; and have submitted to her will. Now, I see her in her true colors, and I am determined to speak the truth. Save myself and my mother, major; for we are innocent. Dr. Etwald and Dido are the guilty persons." "They killed Maurice!" "Yes. I am sure of it." "They stole the body?" "I can swear they did," said Isabella, with emotion. "Why did you not tell me of this before?" asked the major. "I have only been certain of these things since our last interview. I lied to you then because Dido said if I told the truth she would accuse my mother of the murder." "I see," said Jen, thoughtfully, "and I can understand their motives. Dido wished you to marry Etwald." "Yes; and it was to force my mother into compliance with that desire that the whole of these crimes were committed. Dido--"