"_Lies!--all lies!_" snapped the stout woman. "Nevaire before have I seen zis young woman. My name is Madame Melbrun. I dema-a-nd my release _immediatement_. Zis adventuress is a stra-a-nger to _moi_; I have nossing to do wiz her." Jane's eyes opened wide with shocked surprise. "Oh!" she cried. "How can you say that?" Mrs. Markle had folded her fat hands across her capacious form with an air of haughty innocence. She did not once look at Jane. "I have no articles dutiable," she repeated. "I am first-class passenger--name Madame Melbrun--you find it so on ze passenger list. I dem-a-and my r-r-rights!" "Let her go," ordered the presiding official, shrugging his shoulders, "she's got us; but then we've got her, too." Mrs. Markle swept out without so much as a glance in Jane's direction; nevertheless that young person shivered a little as if conscious of the woman's murderous thoughts. The inspector was writing something in a ledger with a pen which scratched sharply. He raised his eyes as the pen ceased its mordant protest. "You may go," he said to Jane. "Where may I go?" asked the girl piteously. "Anywhere you like," returned the inspector briskly. "You are free. Better keep out of Madame Melbrun's way, though. You owe her something like five thousand dollars, and she'd like to collect. Better be more careful in your choice of mistresses next time you hire out, young woman." The woman inspector looked pityingly at Jane. "You come with me," she said. "I'll help you put your jacket together again." Bertha Forbes was as good as her word, and better. When she found Jane had no friends in America and little money, she took her to her own boarding house in a narrow, dirty street near the North River pier, and later introduced her to a reliable employment agency. Jane was far too young and inexperienced in the ways of the great and wicked city of New York to be suitably grateful for these kind offices; but she thanked Miss Forbes warmly, even while she declined to follow her later counsels. "You'd better go back to your aunt," Miss Forbes had said grimly. "It isn't pleasant to be snubbed by rich relatives, I'll admit, but it's far better than--some other things I could tell you of; and I'll see to the transportation." Jane set her small white teeth. "I'll not go back to Aunt Agatha," she murmured passionately. "I am strong--far stronger than I look. I can work." "Very good," said Bertha Forbes, who was merely a lonely, good-hearted woman, when she was off duty. "I'll help you get a place."