“I received a cable message from Dr. Winthrop yesterday,” she quietly remarked as she passed it to madam, “and he requests me to close the house and go to the —— Hotel to await his return. I have made all my arrangements, and if it will not seriously inconvenience you, I would like to dismiss the servants to-day and send the keys to Dr. Winthrop’s lawyer before I go.” A flash of triumph shot into Madame Winthrop’s eyes as she read that brief message, for her plot had worked exactly as she had hoped and wished. She saw that Salome believed she had received her sentence in that message; that she was crushed and humiliated, although she marvelled at her quiet dignity and her wonderful self-control. “Oh, yes, we can easily manage to get away by noon, as we have only our trunks to pack,” she responded, giving Evelyn a significant look. “And I think,” she added, “that Truman is very wise to propose this measure. You can come with us, Salome, if you would prefer to do so instead of going to a hotel,” she concluded, with an appearance of hospitality, although she knew well enough that her offer would be refused. “Thank you; but my plans are all settled, and I shall leave as soon as I can see that everything is in order,” Salome answered, with dignified courtesy. Madam understood that she intended to see that her husband’s commands and interests were faithfully attended to—that the house would have to be closed under her own supervision, and that they would be expected to take their departure before she went; in fact, that she would be mistress there until she surrendered the keys. It did not take them long to do their packing, and their trunks were sent directly to their own house in Thirty-fourth Street. They, however, engaged Dr. Winthrop’s servants to come to them, as they had none of their own. All were glad to secure places so readily, and eagerly accepted the proposition—all save Nellie, who begged Salome to allow her to go with her. “I shall not need you, Nellie,” Salome answered, with quivering lips, for the girl had been very kind to her, and she had become deeply attached to her. “But you will take me back when you go to housekeeping again?” the girl pleaded. “I will stay with my sister, and you can send for me when Dr. Winthrop comes back. I wouldn’t live with those—cats”—and she nodded significantly toward madam’s room—“for double wages.” “I should be very glad to have you with me again, Nellie,” Salome answered evasively; “and—if you are at liberty when—when I need you again, I will send for you.” The girl thanked her and burst into tears as she took her wages, and then went away to pack her trunk. Madam and Evelyn hastened operations and left the house about eleven o’clock, without even saying a word of farewell to Salome. She was engaged in overseeing the packing of the silver, and, oppressed by a sense of guilt, they were glad to get away from her accusing presence.