"It may lead to something unpleasant unless you listen to me," said Silver acidly. "I advise you not to have me turned out, Lady Agnes." "What do you mean?" She dropped the hand she had extended to ring the bell, and faced the smooth-faced creature suddenly. "I don't know what you are talking about." "If you will sit down, Lady Agnes, I can explain." "I can receive your explanation standing," said the widow, frowning. "Be brief, please." "Very well. To put the matter in a nutshell, I want five thousand pounds." "Five thousand pounds!" she echoed, aghast. "On account," said Silver blandly. "On account, Lady Agnes." "And for what reason?" "Sir Hubert was a gypsy," he said again, and with a significant look. "Well?" "He stopped at the camp near Abbot's Wood." "Well?" "There is a gypsy girl there called Chaldea." "Chaldea! Chaldea!" muttered the widow, passing her hand across her brow. "I have heard that name. Oh, yes. Miss Greeby mentioned it to me as the name of a girl who was sitting as Mr. Lambert's model." "Yes," assented Silver, grinning. "She is a very beautiful girl." The color rushed again to the woman's cheeks, but she controlled her emotions with an effort. "So Miss Greeby told me!" She knew that the man was hinting that Lambert admired the girl in question, but her pride prevented her admitting the knowledge. "Chaldea is being painted as Esmeralda to the Quasimodo of her lover, a Servian gypsy called Kara, as I have been informed, Mr. Silver. But what has all this to do with me?" "Don't be in a hurry, Lady Agnes. It will take time to explain." "How dare you take this tone with me?" demanded the widow, clenching her hands. "Leave the room, sir, or I shall have you turned out." "Oh, I shall leave since you wish it," replied Silver, rising slowly and smoothing his silk hat with his sleeve. "But of course I shall try and earn the reward you offered, by taking the letter to the police." Agnes was so surprised that she closed again the door she had opened for her visitor's exit. "What letter?" "That one which was written to inveigle Sir Hubert to The Manor on the night he was murdered," replied Silver slowly, and suddenly raising his eyes he looked at her straightly. "I don't understand," she said in a puzzled way. "I have never heard that such a letter was in existence. Where is it?" "Chaldea has it, and will not give it up unless she receives five thousand pounds," answered the man glibly. "Give it to me and it passes into your possession, Lady Agnes." "Give you what?" "Five thousand pounds--on account." "On account of blackmail. How dare you make such a proposition to me?" "You know," said Silver pointedly. "I know nothing. It is the first time I have heard of any letter. Who wrote it, may I ask?" "You know," said Silver again.