"A very interesting one," said Jabez politely. "Then I take it that you are the young lady entitled to fifty thousand pounds." "I am. I understood that when I came and presented that cross," Maud pointed to the ornament on the table, "that the money would be given to me." "You certainly said as much to me, Jabez," chimed in Hale anxiously. "Quite right. The cross," Jabez waved his hand, "was only a little attempt of mine to introduce romance into the dry details of the law. Of course it is a means of identification, but it will be necessary for Miss Ellis to produce her certificate of birth, her baptismal certificate and----" Hale bit his finger with vexation. "I anticipated that objection," he interrupted in hard tones, "and I knew you would make it." "In the interest of Mrs. Walker I must make it." "Yes! yes. But the fact is, that only Mrs. Tait, besides the mother, knew where the certificate of birth and that of baptism were to be found. They are both dead, as you have heard, so----" "So," ended Jabez rising to stand before the fireplace, "so there will be no chance of this young lady getting the money." "Don't you believe my story?" demanded Maud angrily. "Oh yes. One has only to look into your face, my dear madam, to be certain that you speak as you believe. But the law is not so tender-hearted as I am. The law requires proofs." "The amethyst cross----" "Is one proof, but others are required. Then, you see, the cross was stolen and has not been in your possession all these years. It is not a very strong proof of your identity." "I can make an affidavit," said Hale sharply, "swearing that the mother me told where the child was to be found." "Quite so, and doubtless Mr. Tait--then in the Bloomsbury lodging-house kept by his wife--can make another affidavit showing how the mother left the child in his wife's charge." "Of course," assented Hale readily. "Tait will do anything I ask him." "And my uncle," said Maud, "for I must call him uncle, will only be too glad to see me come into my kingdom." "Oh, I am certain of that," said Jabez, trimming his nails rapidly with a little knife, "and to show your gratitude, you will doubtless divide the money with him." "Oh no. My uncle is too rich to need help," said Maud virtuously. Jabez shut the knife and restored it to his pocket. "So he made enough by the double deal of the jewels and the insurance fraud to tide over the financial crisis which threatened him," he said deliberately. Maud turned pale and uttered an exclamation. "I don't understand." "Do you, Mr. Hale?" asked Jabez. "No," said the man coldly, "I know nothing of Tait's business."