"I daresay you would, if you had a knife or a pistol." jeered Claudia, who was panting with her exertions; "but as you have only your hands, and I am ever so much stronger than you are, it is just as well that you have given in." "I haven't given in, you common, vulgar creature," snarled Lady Wyke. "I intend to marry Edwin in a month." "You won't. He marries me." "You have surrendered him to me to save his life." "Oh no, I haven't. I have been bluffing you, as I said. Edwin's life is quite safe from you, Lady Wyke." "Is it, when I have that letter?" "I defy you to produce that letter." retorted Claudia, arranging the veil round her head, and looking in the mirror over the fireplace. "If you do, there will be trouble. Edwin has a good defence, as I have proved to you. No jury would convict him when no reason can be shown for the commission of the crime of which you accuse him." "He ran away; he ran away," panted Lady Wyke, who felt her defeat sorely and physically. "I daresay he did, because he lost his head for the moment. But he has found it now, remember." "I shall see Sergeant Purse to-morrow and show him that letter," said the hostess, viciously, and stood up to smooth her ruffled plumes at the mirror as her rival had done. "Well, do so. You won't get Edwin in that way?" "We'll see." "Yes. We'll see. Good-bye, Lady Wyke, you'd better go to bed. I shan't detain you any longer," and Claudia moved majestically towards the door. "Wait, I won't show that letter." "That's your affair, and not mine." "But," said Lady Wyke, with an evil smile, "I shall make it my business to discover how your father murdered Hector." "That will be difficult. He had no reason to murder him," so Claudia said, but she winced for all that at the threat. Lady Wyke saw her wincing, and regained a little of her former dominance. "Yes, he had. Hector was going to leave the money to Edwin, and your father knows that Edwin wouldn't have given him a shilling." "He would have given me a shilling, and I would have given it to father. I know you are trying hard to make me surrender, Lady Wyke, but it won't do. Edwin has gone to London to see my father and make things straight." "He can't, he can't!" "That remains to be seen. I defy you." "I hear you," Lady Wyke burst out into a shrill laughter. "You defy me, do you. Well, then I shall hang your father and marry Edwin and see you ruined." "Oh, so you admit that Edwin is innocent," cried Claudia, seizing this admission. "I admit nothing, I shall act." "Act as soon as you please." Claudia opened the door. "Good-night, Lady Wyke." CHAPTER XVIII.