"I know you now [wrote Captain Larcher briefly]. I have seen Claude; I have seen Mona. Henceforth I look upon you as an enemy, and I intend to take immediate steps to clear my name at your expense." * * * * * There was no signature, but Hilliston was too well acquainted with his friend's writing to have any doubt as to the genuineness of the letter. The blow had fallen; Mona had betrayed him, and he sat there helpless, with the letter in his hand, a spectacle of baffled scheming, of unmasked villany. "To clear his name at my expense," muttered Hilliston to himself. "What does he mean by that? He cannot have discovered--but no, that is impossible. When they find out who picked up that dagger at the ball, they may learn the truth, but not till then. I defy them all. Larcher will remain Paynton till the end of his life. Mona! Ah, I shall punish her when I return to town for her cruel treachery." While he was thus thinking, a nurse entered the room to intimate that Mrs. Hilliston would like to see him. The lawyer obeyed the summons at once, placed Larcher's letter in his pocket, smoothed his brow, and entered the sickroom. Signing to the nurse to go away, Mrs. Hilliston waited till she was alone with her husband. "Francis," she said in a low voice, stretching out her hand, "I wish to speak to you--on that subject." "I think it would be wise if you refrained from doing so," replied Hilliston, knowing to what she alluded. "We understand one another on that point; you can do no good by bringing it up again. Why should you?" "For Claude's sake," said Mrs. Hilliston feverishly. "You owe him some reparation." "I owe him none, Louisa. I have acted like a father to him, and he has turned on me. I helped Larcher to hide himself when it was dangerous for him to become known, and he tells me that I am his enemy." "Have you heard from him?" "I received a curt note of three lines intimating that he was about to assert his innocence, and clear his name at my expense." "Francis," cried Mrs. Hilliston, in a tone of terror, "you are lost! If all is known----" "All will not be known," replied Hilliston, patting her hand; "only two people know the truth--you and I. We can keep our own counsel." "But that little man, Tait, is at Horriston." "What of that?" "He will see Belinda Pike there. You know how she hated me because I loved you. She wanted to marry you herself. If he meets Miss Pike she will speak against me." "What of that?" said Hilliston soothingly. "You forget, my dear, that your life is different now. No one can find Louisa Sinclair in Louisa Hilliston. When you went to America you vanished and returned as Mrs. Derrick, the rich widow. Belinda Pike can never learn that. My dear, you distress yourself suddenly. We are perfectly safe." "But the garnet scarfpin," questioned Mrs. Hilliston feverishly.