"A will?" Ida stared and flushed with pleasure. "Then poor Mr. Dimsdale did not entirely forget me." "He did not forget you at all. I found this will--well it doesn't matter where, since I explained everything to our friend here last night. But you inherit the Dimsdale property as Ida Menteith, so Lady Corsoon will not be able to strip you of your worldly goods." "Oh!"--Ida grew even more scarlet--"then, Richard----" He caught her hands and pressed them to his breast. "My dear, I would take you without a single penny." "And that is the way in which you will have to take her," said Frances drily, "unless you consent to my demands." "I leave that to Ida," said Towton, once more stiff and military. "Leave what to me?" asked Ida, looking from one to the other. Frances turned to her in a business-like way. "The property my brother has made over to me is mortgaged and I am penniless. If you marry the Colonel I lose your society and also the chance of being your companion at a certain wage. To make amends I ask for ten thousand pounds." "You shall have it, of course,' said Ida promptly. "Will you sign this document giving it to me?" asked Miss Hest pulling a sheet of paper out of her pocket. "At once, if you will give me pen and ink." The two women went towards a table upon which stood what was required. Apparently Frances had made all necessary preparations to get the money. "You can give me a cheque also. Here is the book," she said eagerly. "Ida, Ida! Are you wise in doing this?" warned the Colonel, following. "Yes," said the girl rapidly signing her name and without even reading the document. "I want to marry you and be rid of Frances." Miss Hest sneered, while Towton started back, utterly astonished by the change of tone. "I thought--I fancied--I believed," he stuttered, "that you were deeply attached to Miss Hest." "I was, but--there are circumstances----" "Oh, let us have the truth," interposed Frances sharply. "You liked me well enough and I liked you until you found that I was too clever for you, so----" Ida caught at her lover's hand and made an effort to pull herself together in the face of Miss Hest's contemptuous eyes. "You treated me shamefully, Frances," she said in tones of reproach. "I loved you dearly until you began to bully me and to make my life a burden. You got me down here in order to gain possession of my money, and have been trying to influence me into giving up not only my property but Richard also. I saw what you were ever since we came to this house, but, to deceive you, I played my part, and led you to believe that I still loved----" "Oh, rubbish," said Miss Hest, whose eyes were as hard as jade. "You played your part very badly. I saw through your weak tricks. You were afraid of me, you know you were."