"Events must take their course. I will not interfere. If you marry me you will have an honoured name, and the satisfaction of knowing that you have saved your sister. If you refuse, you will lose your honourable name, your sister, and not even gain your Australian lover in return." "Mercy!" she cried, falling at his feet. "No!" He stood above her, calm and pitiless, stroking his beard. "I will give anything but that," she murmured. "I can accept nothing else." "You are a devil!" "Possibly. Your answer?" She sprang to her feet with a face pale as marble, and clung to the mantelpiece for support; but though Vassalla saw she was weak he gave her no assistance. "Your answer?" he demanded, pitilessly; "yes or no?" "Yes," she whispered, and for the second time that day fainted. CHAPTER XVIII. THE SECRETS OF THE PENNY POST. "_Carmela Cotoner to Ronald Monteith_. "My Dear Mr. Monteith,--I write to let you know that in the interview I had with you yesterday, you misunderstood some of my statements. My sister, Mrs. Verschoyle, did not come on board with me to say good-bye, when the 'Neptune' sailed, but did so before I left home. _You will understand why I write this letter._" "Yours truly, Carmela Cotoner." * * * * * "Poor soul," said Ronald, handing the letter to Foster; "I can understand--she knows her sister is guilty, and would shield her." "Yes, I can see that," said Foster, glancing rapidly over the letter; "but how does she know her sister is guilty?" "I don't know," said Ronald, blankly. "Hum," answered Gerald, looking keenly at him; "let us look into this. In the first place, did you think she thought her sister guilty when you saw her?" "No," eagerly; "I'm sure she did not." "Then she must have seen some one in the meantime who told her the truth," returned Foster; "now, whom did you see in the meantime?" "No one, except Vassalla," returned the Australian, innocently. "Exactly," said the barrister, "you saw Vassalla, and told him you knew that he and Mrs. Verschoyle had lied regarding her movements on the night in question?" "Well?" "Well!" echoed Foster, rather annoyed, "can't you see? Vassalla knew Mrs. Verschoyle was on board, and also that Ventin was her husband, and told Carmela Cotoner all about it; so, to save her sister, she has recanted, and written a lie--a white lie, poor soul! for which she will be forgiven in heaven." "Then what do you think of the whole affair?" said Ronald, eagerly. "I think that Vassalla knows more about this affair than we give him credit," replied Foster. "Shall I answer her letter?" said Monteith, after a pause. "If you like," returned the other, shrugging his shoulders. "Then I will." * * * * * "_Ronald Monteith to Carmela Cotoner_. "My Dear Miss Cotoner,--I have received your letter. Believe me, I admire and respect your silence. "Yours truly, "Ronald Monteith." * * * * *