With her false smile she turned to the door. "Certainly, sir, but as Miss Mason is in the Forest of Arden I would like her to know that Emily is likewise there. That was why she was in the hall. She has an eye to Professor Bocaros," burst out Mrs. Varney with pride; "he admiring her greatly, and living in the vicinity of Ajax Villa. Good-day, miss, and----" the landlady looked as though she would have liked to add, "Bless you!" but an imperious glance from Arnold sent her rapidly out of the room. Stately as Mrs. Varney was, she loved to be bullied as all women in their hearts do. Arnold's imperious manner only made her admire him the more. Had he been a bully in addition, she would doubtless have adored him. "I don't like it, Arnold," said Laura, starting to her feet when the door closed. "Professor Bocaros, in spite of his looks and poverty, is a gentleman. Why should he take notice of Emily, who is merely a servant? And she is here--oh, what does it mean?" Arnold, amazed by this outburst, looked at her in surprise. "My dear, what does it matter?" he said, pressing her to resume her seat. "I don't care if Bocaros marries a laundress. He has nothing to do with me." "He is a dangerous man, and you are in his way." "Am I? What do you mean?" "Can't you understand, Arnold? He told Mr. Tracey that his cousin and yours, Mrs. Brand, intended to leave him the money. I learned from Mrs. Baldwin, who heard it from the professor himself, that you have got the ten thousand a year. The professor is poor--from what Mrs. Baldwin told me he is wretchedly poor. Do you think such a man will tamely submit to the loss of a fortune? No, Arnold, no. He is dangerous. Take care. If Emily Doon has an eye to marrying the professor, she is not in this house for nothing." Calvert tried to soothe the excited girl. "My dear, you are unduly suspicious. Mrs. Varney has given us the reason for the maid's being here. Bocaros cannot harm me in any way----" "Are you so sure?" asked Laura sharply. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I mean that you will not be open with me. I love you. Have I not proved how I love you. Julia is against our marriage: but in spite of what she says I have remained true to you. Yet you will not trust me?" "With what? I am quite in the dark." He may have been. Yet there was a deep colour in his cheeks, and he looked uneasy. Laura saw these symptoms of emotion, and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Arnold," she said earnestly, "if you have any love for me you will speak out. Look at this!" she hastily drew from her pocket the stage dagger. "This is yours?" "It is," he admitted readily, and with a look of great surprise. "If you remember it was bought by me for the second act of this play. I showed it to you and----" "You did. You showed it to me before the murder!" Arnold looked at her in silence. "Perhaps you will permit me to explain," he said coldly, "as I really do not understand what you mean by such a speech. I lost that dagger----"