Mrs. Hilliston laughed, and looked at him smilingly. "Then you must be very ignorant of the way of women, my dear," she said meaningly. "A word in your ear, Claude. That girl loves you." "In two weeks! Impossible!" "I've known love to grow in two days," replied Mrs. Hilliston dryly. "Oh, yes, she loves you, and you love her, so you can marry as soon as you choose." "First I must get Mr. Paynton's consent." "I should not think that would be difficult," said the lady, looking at his eager face. "You are young, not ill-looking, not badly off, and so I should not think Mr. Paynton would desire anything better for his daughter. So much for the first obstacle, and the second?" "I must solve the mystery of my father's death." Mrs. Hilliston's manner changed on the instant, and from being gay she became severe and anxious-looking. Indeed, Claude thought that she paled under her rouge; but this might have been fancy. "It is about that I wish to speak to you," she said hurriedly. "I want you to stop investigating this case. You will learn nothing; it would be of no use to anyone if you did solve the mystery. Stop troubling yourself with slander, Claude." "Why?" he asked, astonished at her earnest tone. "Because your conduct vexes my husband. He has been a father to you in the place of the one you lost, so you ought to consider him a little. Pray leave that mystery unsolved." "If I would, Tait would not. He is now even more eager than I to find out the truth." "Horrid little man!" said the lady viciously. "Where is he now?" The time had now come to try the effect of Tait's destination, and fixing his eyes on Mrs. Hilliston as she slowly fanned herself, Claude uttered the fatal words. "He is at Horriston." The fan stopped, Mrs. Hilliston paled, but, preserving her self-control with a strong effort, replied quietly: "At Horriston. And why?" "To find out a person not mentioned in the case." "Man or woman?" asked Mrs. Hilliston in a low voice. "Woman." She said no more, but turned away her head to reply to her husband, who came up opportunely. He also had heard the last few words of the conversation, and, ignoring the presence of Claude, husband and wife looked at one another with pale faces. The shot had struck home, and Larcher saw that it had. CHAPTER XXXII. THE DISCOVERIES OF SPENSER TAIT.