Señora Guzman laughed again in the most irritating manner. "You will never see him face to face. We go away, he and I, from this land of yours to South America. There we shall be happy." Maud started to her feet. "He shan't go, he won't go. I'll tell the police. I'll have him hanged. I'll--oh--oh--oh," she appeared to be on the verge of a fit of hysterics, when Herries, thinking this scene between the two women had gone far enough, caught her by the arms, and hurt her a trifle. The pain made her cry out, but it strung her up to overcoming the hysteria. "You brute," said Maud, with a sob, "to strike a woman." "I did not strike you," said Herries very patiently, "and if I have hurt you I beg your pardon. But you had better sit down quietly and tell me all you know." "I shan't." "Then I can't protect you from the police." "You will tell?" "No. On second thoughts I shall not tell, but Armour will. And if he does, what is to become of you, Maud?" She saw her danger and made for the door as though to fly. But Herries brought her back. "Sit down, sit down," he said soothingly. "Believe me, Maud, that badly as you have treated me, I am still your friend--your only friend." "And you need a friend," observed Señora Guzman, surveying the girl with coldly critical eyes. "You cat," cried Maud turning on her viciously, then dropped into a chair with a sob. "Oh, Heavens, was there ever so unfortunate a creature as I am? I've lost my money and my father, and----" "And your lover." "Pray be silent, Señora," said Herries, rather disgusted. "I will not," she retorted fiercely, "why should I be silent, when she tried to take my lover from me? She knew that he was engaged to me, she knew----!" "I didn't," sobbed Maud, interrupting swiftly. "You did. Sir Simon asked me to his house when we came to see him on business--we--Bruce and myself. I told you that I was engaged to be married. And you,--you tried to get him away." "And I succeeded," said Maud with dismal triumph, "he made love to me, he kissed me." "I know that. He told me everything." "What! He--told--you." "Yes," snapped the Señora, "we wanted money,--heaps of money. Sir Simon knew that we didn't want war-ships, but only money for this treasure expedition. At first he would lend, then he would not. Then since you were so shameless----" "Señora, Señora," pleaded Herries, quite helpless between these two fierce creatures quarrelling over a man. "I must speak," she cried loudly, and striking the table with her gloved hand. "She must be told the truth, for once in her silly, vapid life. She dares to pit herself against me,--the daughter of a house which has been famous for centuries. She dares to compare her feeble, washed-out beauty with mine--with mine. Ah," she raised her arms with a proud gesture, "look at me, look at you. I tell you, Bruce would lay down his life for me." "He shall, on the gallows," panted Maud viciously.