"For Miss Marston?" inquired Mewks, who had learned not a little cunning in the service. "No!" roared Mr. Redmain; and Mewks darted from the room, followed more leisurely by Mary. "I don't know what's come to master!" ventured Mewks, as he led the way down the stair. But Mary took no notice, and left the house. For about a week she heard nothing. In the meantime Mr. Redmain had been prosecuting certain inquiries he had some time ago begun, and another quite new one besides. He was acquainted with many people of many different sorts, and had been to jewelers and pawnbrokers, gamblers and lodging-house keepers, and had learned some things to his purpose. Once more Mary received from him a summons, and once more, considerably against her liking, obeyed. She was less disinclined to go this time, however, for she felt not a little curious about the ring. "I want you to come back to the house," he said, abruptly, the moment she entered his room. For such a request Mary was not prepared. Even since the ring was found, so long a time had passed that she never expected to hear from the house again. But Tom was now so much better, and Letty so much like her former self, that, if Mrs. Redmain had asked her, she might perhaps have consented. "Mr. Redmain," she answered, "you must see that I can not do so at your desire." "Oh, rubbish! humbug!" he returned, with annoyance. "Don't fancy I am asking you to go fiddle-faddling about my wife again: I don't see how you _can_ do that, after the way she has used you! But I have reasons for wanting to have you within call. Go to Mrs. Perkin. I won't take a refusal." "I can not do it, Mr. Redmain," said Mary; "the thing is impossible." And she turned to leave the room. "Stop, stop!" cried Mr. Redmain, and jumped from his chair to prevent her. He would not have succeeded had not Mewks met her in the doorway full in the face. She had to draw back to avoid him, and the man, perceiving at once how things were, closed the door the moment he entered, and stood with his back against it. "He's in the drawing-room, sir," said Mewks. A scarcely perceptible sign of question was made by the master, and answered in kind by the man. "Show him here directly," said Mr. Redmain. Then turning to Mary, "Go out that way, Miss Marston, if you will go," he said, and pointed to the dressing-room. Mary, without a suspicion, obeyed; but, just as she discovered that the door into the bedroom beyond was locked, she heard the door behind her locked also. She turned, and knocked. "Stay where you are," said Mr. Redmain, in a low but imperative voice. "I can not let you out till this gentleman is gone. You must hear what passes: I want you for a witness."