"Stephanie is awake and is asking for you," she said. As the young man rose with a murmured excuse. Miss Quest turned and looked at Chiltern Grismer. "Madame," he began, rising to his gaunt height, "permit me—my name is Grismer——" "Oh," she interrupted drily, "I’ve talked you over with the late Mr. Cleland." "My friend of many years, Madame——" "We didn’t discuss your friendship for each other, Mr. Grismer," she snapped out. "Our subject of conversation concerned money." "Ma’am?" "An inheritance, in fact, which, I believe, you allege that you _legally_ converted to your own uses," she added, staring at him. They sustained each other’s gaze in silence for a moment. Then Grismer’s large, dry hand crept up over his lips and began a rhythmical massage of the grim jaw. "My friend of many years and I came to an understanding in regard to the painful matter which you have mentioned," he said slowly. "Yes?" "Absolutely, Madame. Out of his abundance, I was given to understand, he had bountifully provided for your niece—m-m-m’yes, bounteously provided. Further, he gave me to understand that you, Madame, out of the abundant wealth with which our Lord has blessed you, had indicated your resolution to provide for the young lady." There was an uncanny gleam in Miss Quest’s eyes. But she said nothing. Grismer, watching her, softly joined the tips of his horny fingers. "M-m’yes. Quite so. My friend of many years voluntarily assured me that he did not contemplate reopening the unfortunate matter in question—in point of fact, Madame, he gave me his solemn promise never to initiate any such action in behalf of the young lady." Miss Quest remained mute. "And John Cleland was right, Madame," continued Grismer in a gentle, persuasive voice, "because any such litigation must prove not only costly but fruitless of result. The unfortunate and undesirable publicity of such a case, if brought to trial, could not vindicate my own rectitude and the righteousness of my cause while gossip and scandal cruelly destroyed the social position which the young lady at present enjoys." After another silence: "Well?" inquired Miss Quest, "is there anything more that worries you, Mr. Grismer?" "Worries me, Madame? I am not disturbed in the slightest degree." "Oh, yes you are. You are not disturbed over any possible scandal that might affect my niece, but you are horribly afraid of any disgrace to yourself. And that is why you come into this house of death while your ’friend of many years’ is still lying in his coffin! That is why you come prowling to find out whether I am as much a lady in my way as he was a gentleman in his. That’s all that disturbs you!" "Madame——" "Or, to put it plainer, you want to know whether you have to defend an action, civil perhaps, possibly criminal, charging you with mal-administration and illegal conversion of trust funds. That’s all that worries you, isn’t it? Well—worry then!" she added venomously. "Do I understand——"