"Thank you for the compliment," retorted Claudia, sitting bolt upright with a stern white face and steady eyes. "Oh, it's no compliment," trilled Lady Wyke, like a bird, "it is the truth. If you were a namby-pamby of the weeping kind I should despise you. As it is, I respect you immensely. Few girls of your age would act so sensibly." "I am acting sensibly, as you call it, because I see no other way in which to act. But although I have yielded for the moment, Lady Wyke, don't think that I have given up all hope of regaining Edwin. That Edwin will be my husband is a foregone conclusion. Aren't you ashamed to get a husband on such terms?" "Not a bit," said Lady Wyke, coolly. "He doesn't love me now, but he will learn to love me. I suppose he is annoyed at you throwing him over." "I haven't told him," retorted Claudia, curtly. "He has gone to town." "Oh!" Lady Wyke started and looked suspiciously at her visitor. "I know that you can implicate Edwin in the murder by showing that letter to Sergeant Purse," said Claudia, steadily. "All the same you know that he is guiltless." "Do I? Then who is guilty?" "I can't say." "Your father?" asked Lady Wyke, impertinently and with meaning. "No!" Claudia started to her feet. "My father would never stab an old man." "Oh, I think he would to get money," retorted the hostess, leaning back in her chair and smiling. "He is very much the man who would slay and stab in order to get money. And from all accounts he needs money very badly." "Yes, I think he does," said Claudia, coolly, "else he would scarcely have thought of marrying you." The shot told, and Lady Wyke grew angry. "Look here, Miss Lemby, I am scrupulously polite to you, and I expect politeness in return. If you have nothing more to say you had better go." "Oh! I have ever so much more to say. I will go when it suits me." "You defy me," cried Lady Wyke. "I do. I have given in over one thing because I can't help myself. I am not going to give in over the question of staying or going. After we have had an explanation, it is just on the cards that I may rescind my surrender." "Oh, indeed. Well, Miss Lemby, as it seems we are to have a talk, let me offer you some refreshment. There is wine on yonder table." "No, thanks." "Well; then, go on; what have you to say?" "This. That Edwin is innocent." "Prove it," said Lady Wyke. "Edwin has told me everything," pursued Claudia. "He came down here in answer to a letter from your husband inviting him to an interview." "Quite correct. The letter I hold is written in answer to one sent by Sir Hector." "Very good," remarked Miss Lemby, "we are agreed so far. Well, then, Edwin told you, I presume, why Sir Hector wished to see him?"