He shook his head, and she looked disappointed. ‘I have not that honour.’ ‘Where, and who is he, then? Monsieur, I entreat you, introduce me to your friend.’ ‘Madame needs no introduction. Madame is already well acquainted.’ A long silence ensued. Mrs. Belassis’ face had grown dark. She seemed half afraid to offer another suggestion. ‘You must tell me more, Monsieur.’ But the eager look on the Italian’s face had given place to one of hesitation. He looked like a man who has been led on to say more than he at first intended. ‘I have said enough,’ he answered quickly; ‘Madame must not misunderstand me.’ ‘I begin to think I understand at last.’ Mrs. Belassis spoke very slowly, as if her mind was full of thought—too full to admit of free speech. She pressed her hand to her head, and her eyes seemed to darken and deepen. ‘Oh, if _that_ is it, what a villain, a scoundrel he has been! But the law will lay a hand upon him. He shall not be allowed to escape.’ ‘What do you mean?’ asked the Italian, who looked somewhat uneasy. ‘I mean, Monsieur, that you have let out your secret at last. I know now who and where Mr. Torwood is. Ah! why did I not think of it when Sir Herbert Moncrieff identified him as Torwood—when we all said how utterly unlike any Debenham he was? How could he? How dared he? But he has reached the end of his tether. Now it is my turn.’ The Signor moved restlessly. He looked half interested, half annoyed. He seemed eager, yet reluctant, to speak. ‘Madame must be careful and secret. Mr. Torwood is a good friend, but a dangerous enemy.’ Mrs. Belassis pondered over this. ‘Where is Mr. Debenham?’ she asked suddenly. ‘At sea—on a sea-voyage for his health.’ ‘Does he know of this? Can he have given Mr. Torwood powers to act?’ ‘He has not done so. He is too ill to know anything about it.’ ‘Could he not be brought back? He should prosecute at once.’ ‘Perhaps he would decline to prosecute his friend.’ ‘Friend!’ repeated Mrs. Belassis venomously. Then she added, with an evil look, ‘We are Philip Debenham’s next-of-kin. _We_ will prosecute.’ Her eyes glowed with malicious triumph. She spoke with a relish that was malignant. ‘Forgery, fraud, false pretences, gross treachery and wholesale robbery—a very nice list against an English gentleman of honourable name. Yes, Philip Debenham; a little quiet conversation with me will open your eyes considerably. You will not look so bold at the close, as you do at the commencement of our interview.’ But Signor Pagliadini did not seem inclined to allow the matter to slip thus out of his own hands. ‘Madame is very confident; but it seems to me that she is too much so. Mr. Torwood is a clever man. Most likely he knows what he is about, and will be quite ready to meet and to fight Madame. Victory is not always to the righteous. It is generally to the strong. Does not your proverb say that possession is nine points of the law?’ ‘You mean he would dispute the possession?’