While I still looked at her in equal amazement, she went on, "I beg your pardon, but you are so ridiculous that I had to say it. Why, I wasn't talking about you, but about Lord Ralles." "Lord Ralles!" I cried. "Yes." "I don't understand," I exclaimed. "Why, Lord Ralles has been--has been--oh, he's threatened that if I wouldn't--that--" "You mean he--?" I began, and then stopped, for I couldn't believe my ears. "Oh," she burst out, "of course you couldn't understand, and you probably despise me already, but if you knew how I scorn myself, Mr. Gordon, and what I have endured from that man, you would only pity me." Light broke on me suddenly. "Do you mean, Miss Cullen," I cried hotly, "that he's been cad enough to force his attentions upon you by threats?" "Yes. First he made me endure him because he was going to help us, and from the moment the robbery was done, he has been threatening to tell. Oh, how I have suffered!" Then I said a very silly thing. "Miss Cullen," I groaned, "I'd give anything if I were only your brother." For the moment I really meant it. "I haven't dared to tell any of them," she explained, "because I knew they would resent it and make Lord Ralles angry, and then he would tell, and so ruin papa. It seemed such a little thing to bear for his sake, but, oh, it's been--I suppose you despise me!" "I never dreamed of despising you," I said. "I only thought, of course--seeing what I did--and--that you were fond--No--that is--I mean--well--The beast!" I couldn't help exclaiming. "Oh," said Madge, blushing, and stammering breathlessly, "you mustn't think--there was really--you happened to--usually I managed to keep with papa or my brothers, or else run away, as I did when he interrupted my letter-writing,--when you thought we had--but it was nothing of the--I kept away just--but the night of the robbery I forgot, and on the trail his mule blocked the path. He never--there really wasn't--you saved me the only times he--he--that he was really rude; and I am so grateful for it, Mr. Gordon." I wasn't in a mood to enjoy even Miss Cullen's gratitude. Without stopping for words, I dashed into 218, and, going straight to Albert Cullen, I shook him out of a sound sleep, and before he could well understand me I was alternately swearing at him and raging at Lord Ralles. Finally he got the truth through his head, and it was nuts to me, even in my rage, to see how his English drawl disappeared, and how quick he could be when he really became excited. I left him hurrying into his clothes, and went to my car, for I didn't dare to see the exodus of Lord Ralles, through fear that I couldn't behave myself. Albert came into 97 in a few moments to say that the Englishmen were going to the hotel as soon as dressed, the captain having elected to stay by his brother. "I wouldn't have believed it of Ralles. I feel jolly cut up, you know," he drawled.