"Thank you, Olive. Now be patient; I must go back to my room for a little while. Don't ask me any questions yet. When I come down I will tell you how I obtained this, and why I have talked to you so much of this man." Madeline walked out of the room, leaving Olive staring after her in bewilderment. Claire was sitting in the same attitude as when she left her. "Well?" she said, raising her eyes. "She recognized it immediately. She would swear that it is the man who sent her husband to prison." "Thank you, dear." Claire took the picture from her hands, and without once glancing at it, she bent forward and dropped it into the grate. Madeline threw herself on her knees at the girl's side. "Oh, Claire, Claire! I have made you miserable; forgive me." "What for? You have done me a great service. Do you think I want that man's love?" "But Claire--" "I loved an ideal; that ideal, see;" pointing to the grate. "Do you think I shall cry after a pinch of ashes?" looking her full in the face. Then, with a shrug of annoyance. "You have roused poor Olive's curiosity; she must hear of this miserable discovery of ours, or yours--bah," stamping her foot angrily, "my pride is hurt more than my heart!" "Your pride need not suffer more than it does already, Claire. You have seen me humbled to the dust; see me so still; and surely it won't be so very bitter to think that poor Madeline knows that your sunny life has suffered one little shadow. I will tell Olive all I know of Edward Percy, save that you have ever seen him. The knowledge that he has crossed your path can in no way benefit her, or aid us in unmasking him. Evidently, he does not know that you are in any way connected with the fortunes of Philip Girard. Let this rest between us. If this plan suits you, perhaps I had better go and tell my story to Olive. I have twice postponed a revelation to-day." [Illustration: "She bent forward, and dropped it into the grate."--page 200.] "The plan does suit me. Many, many thanks, dear Madeline," said Claire, calmly and gently. "And now, as I must, of course, be supposed to first hear this story after it has been told to Olive, or at that time, I would prefer being present when you enlighten her. Let us dress for dinner, go down together, and--I leave the rest to your tact." Madeline could readily comprehend that it would be easier for Claire to sit, with Olive, a listener, than to wait and hear the story from the lips of her sister. If it were left to Olive to tell, Claire's face might betray her heart, perhaps. But now, hearing it from Madeline, and with Olive, whose surprise and dismay at the revelation would quite effectually cover up any signs of emotion Claire might manifest, the thing did not appear so difficult. Madeline signified her approval, and they separated to dress for dinner.