“You?” cried Italy, in wonder; and the housekeeper replied: “Yes, miss; to tell the truth, I was peeping through that keyhole there into the very room where you were, and I saw a woman’s face at the window, saw her raise a pistol and fire. I rushed into the room. There lay Mr. Severn dead, and you in a faint.” “Did you know the woman?” “No, miss; she was a perfect stranger to me, although I would be sure to know her face if I ever saw it again.” “What if I tell you that your master, Mr. Seabright, married that murderess to-night?” “Oh, miss, I could not believe you!” “But it is true. I recognized her face, and it was Mrs. Dunn. But I kept silence, because I thought she did it to save me from that villain.” “Oh, I wish my master had known it. He never would have married that wicked woman.” “Your master is very wicked himself. It is because of some suspected villainy of his that I am here to-night,” answered Italy, coming suddenly to the point, and before Mrs. Smith could remonstrate, she continued: “You are in my power, Mrs. Smith, for the widow of Harold Severn has offered a large reward for information that would lead to the discovery of her husband’s murderer. If I should tell her what I know, it would bring you and your doings into terrible notoriety. Remember, you acted a very dishonorable part, claiming to be Mrs. Gardner, a very well-known Boston lady.” “Oh, miss, I did wrong. For God’s sake don’t expose me!” whined the housekeeper, falling abjectly on her knees before her accuser. “Upon only one condition will I spare you,” Italy answered sternly. “Oh, miss, if there is anything I can do for you?” “There is one very simple thing,” Italy told her; adding: “In this house Percy Seabright has one locked room of which you keep the key. Give me admission to that room, let me search for something that is hidden there, and whether I find it or not, your secret shall be safe with me!” CHAPTER XXVIII. MRS. VALE IS VINDICATED. The housekeeper’s face grew lividly pale at these words. “Oh, miss, you don’t know what you’re asking. Mr. Seabright would kill me!” “Your master is on the sea now, and will not return for many months. He need never know.” “But indeed, miss, there’s nothing of interest in the room--only rubbish. Please ask me something else to do for you.” “It is this, or nothing. And if you refuse, this house will be reported to the police as a gambling-den. It will be raided and searched!” Mrs. Smith read deadly earnest in the pale, stern young face. She rose up, shuddering: “Will you promise me one thing if I let you have the key?” she asked wildly. “You will go in alone, and never tell what you saw in there? Oh, heavens, it would ruin my poor master! And I promised his mother on her dying bed to look after her son, to shield his secret from the world!” The woman wrung her hands in a sort of impotent despair. Her terror only made Italy more anxious.