Fairy Fan changed colour at the sight of this rage on the part of Balkis, and even the Captain looked uneasy. He was well aware that Balkis had it in her power to make things unpleasant for him, and was quite willing to save his own skin by deserting his niece. Fan still kept her courage, and denied the letter. "I wrote that with a purpose. It is not true. I swear it!" "Though you swore a hundred oaths I should not believe you," said Balkis, stamping. "You loved my Walter, you took him from me. I will punish you. I will--I will!" She shook her fist in a paroxysm of rage and dashed into the inner room. Fan stared at Eustace. "This is your work," she said, looking pale. Jarman nodded. "I got the letter for this purpose. You will not pacify that savage jealousy easily." Miss Berry slipped her arm within that of her uncle. "I am quite safe," she said coolly. "No harm can come to me." "Wait a moment," said Berry, removing his arm. "You left me in the lurch, Fan, when you married Anchor. I'm going to make my own bed this time, and lie on it. "What do you mean?" she asked quickly. "This," said the little scoundrel, coolly. "Natty's given us the go-by, so there ain't much chance of getting the money through him." "There's less chance of getting it through me," said Frank, quickly, "if that's your meaning, Berry. I intend to give myself up." "Don't be a fool," said Darrel, quickly, and looking uneasy. "I've been a fool long enough. I'll give myself up." Eustace nodded. "That's the best thing to do," he declared, for he had been observant of the Berry face. "Stand your trial, Frank. I have got evidence that will stand you in good stead." "But see here," cried Berry, looking more and more dismayed. "If you can be proved innocent--" "Ah! You admit that I am innocent," said Frank, quickly. "To all here. But it depends upon yourself if I prove it in open court. What will you give me?" "Wait a moment, Frank," interposed Jarman, preventing the young man from replying. "Do you mean to say, Berry, that you can prove the innocence of Lancaster?" "No, he can't," said Darrel. "It's impossible." "Not if I get five thousand a-year for life," said Berry, coolly. "Then I must have half of it," put in Fairy Fan. At this moment Balkis called them into the inner room in an imperious voice. At first they were unwilling to go; then they decided to obey, seeing that the negress might prove dangerous. She was seated at the head of a table under a kind of canopy. "You say that Lancaster is innocent?" she asked Berry. "I do," he replied, "if I get five thousand a-year; and a mighty small sum that is, considering the cards I hold." "But what about me?" said Fan, looking disagreeable. "Oh, you shall be rewarded," said Balkis, blandly. "I don't believe you loved Walter after all." "No. I love Frank here, but since he will not marry me, let him give me the same sum as he gives my uncle." "That means I have to pay ten thousand a-year," said Frank.