"He has dared to enter our gates, bringing a police officer with him," was her hoarse and almost unintelligible cry. "We know that the man with him is a police officer because he was here once before, and though he was kind enough then, he cannot have come the second time except to----" Here the pressure of Loreen's hand was so strong as to make the feeble Lucetta quiver. She stopped, and Miss Knollys took up her words: "Except to make us talk on subjects much better buried in oblivion. Miss Butterworth, will you go down with us? Your presence may act as a restraint. Mr. Trohm seems to have some respect for you." "Mr. Trohm?" "Yes. It is his coming which has so agitated Lucetta. He and a man named Gryce are just coming up the walk. There goes the knocker. Lucetta, you must control yourself or leave me to face these unwelcome visitors alone." Lucetta, with a sudden fierce effort, subdued her trembling. "If he must be met," said she, "my anger and disdain may give some weight to your quiet acceptance of the family's disgrace. I shall not accept his denunciations quietly, Loreen. You must expect me to show some of the feelings that I have held in check all these years." And without waiting for reply, without waiting even to see what effect these strange words might have upon me, she dashed down the stairs and pulled open the front door. We had followed rapidly, too rapidly for speech ourselves, and were therefore in the hall when the door swung back, revealing the two persons I had been led to expect. Mr. Trohm spoke first, evidently in answer to the defiance to be seen in Lucetta's face. "Miss Knollys, a thousand pardons. I know I am transgressing, but, I assure you, the occasion warrants it. I am certain you will acknowledge this when you hear what my errand is." "Your errand? What can your errand be but to----" Why did she pause? Mr. Gryce had not looked at her. Yet that it was under his influence she ceased to commit herself I am as convinced as we can be of anything in a world which is half deceit. "Let us hear your errand," put in Loreen, with that gentle emphasis which is no sign of weakness. "I will let this gentleman speak for me," returned Mr. Trohm. "You have seen him before--a New York detective of whose business in this town you cannot be ignorant." Lucetta turned a cold eye upon Mr. Gryce and quietly remarked: "When he visited this lane a few days ago, he professed to be seeking a clue to the many disappearances which have unfortunately taken place within its precincts." Mr. Trohm's nod was one of acquiescence. But Lucetta was still looking at the detective. "Is that your business now?" she asked, appealing directly to Mr. Gryce. His fatherly accents when he answered her were a great relief after the alternate iciness and fire with which she had addressed his companion and himself. "I hardly know how to reply without arousing your just anger. If your brother is in----"