And for a moment he appeared to be so, not only to Gerridge, but to Mr. Ransom himself. Then something in the man--his unnatural coldness, the purpose which made itself felt through all his self-restraint--reawakened Mr. Ransom's distrust and led him to say: "Your complaint is natural. If you are Mrs. Ransom's brother, there should be sympathy between us and not antagonism. But I feel only antagonism. Why is this?" A shrug, followed by an odd smile. "You should be able to account for that on very reasonable grounds," said he. "I do not expect much mercy from strangers. It is hard to make your good intentions felt through such a distorted medium as my expression has now become." "Mrs. Ransom has been here," Ransom suddenly launched forth. "Within two hours of your encounter under Mr. Fulton's roof, she was talking with you in this hotel. I have proof positive of that, sir." "I have no wish to deny the fact," was the steady answer. "She did come here and we had a talk; it was necessary; I wanted money." The last phrase was uttered with such grim determination that the exclamation which had risen to Mr. Ransom's lips died in a conflict of feeling which forbade any rejoinder that savored of sarcasm. Hazen, however, must have noted his first look, for he added with an air of haughty apology: "I repeat that we were once very fond of each other." Ransom felt his perplexities growing with every moment he talked with this man. He remembered the money which both he and Gerridge had seen in her bag,--an amount too large for her to have retained very much on her person,--and following the instinct of the moment, he remarked: "Mrs. Ransom is not the woman to hesitate when a person she loves makes an appeal for money. She handed you immediately a large sum, I have no doubt." "She wrote me out a check," was the simple but cold answer. Mr. Ransom felt the failure of his attempt and stole a glance at Gerridge. The doubtful smile he received was not very encouraging. The same thought had evidently struck both. The money in the bag was a blind--she had carried her check-book with her and so could draw on her account for whatever she wished. But under what name? Her maiden one or his? Ransom determined to find out. "I do not begrudge you the money," said he, "but Mrs. Ransom's signature had changed a few hours previous to her making out this check. Did she remember this?" "She signed her married name promising to notify the bank at once." "And you cashed the check?" "No, sir; I am not in such immediate need of money as that. I have it still, but I shall endeavor to cash it to-morrow. Some question may come up as to her sanity, and I do not choose to lose the only money she has ever been in a position to give me." "Mr. Hazen, you harp on the irresponsible condition of her mind. Did you see any tokens of this in the interview you had together?" "No; she seemed sane enough then; a little shocked and troubled, but quite sane."