"And when you heard that your father had been murdered?" "I thought Captain Kyles had lost his temper and had killed him." "Oh. Then you did not believe that it was me, after all." "No. I never knew that you were in the house. But when I heard that you had been arrested, I thought, in any case, that you would be hanged, and so joined in the cry against you. I wanted to save Bruce," wailed Maud. "I see," said Herries, horrified at this callous girl, "so you were willing to hang an innocent man, and marry one whom you thought had murdered your father." "Bruce did _not_ murder Sir Simon," put in Señora Guzman vehemently, "it is not true. I came here, Mr. Herries, to explain all I could, and to ask you to come on board the yacht which is at Tarhaven." "Will I see Captain Kyles?" "Yes. He wishes to see you about the money." "Why should I pay the money?" "You said you would," said Señora Guzman vehemently, "and you will have to do so if you wish to get the fortune." An evil light suddenly shone in Maud's eyes, as though the devil had whispered some delicious thought. "Let me come also," she said eagerly to Señora Guzman. "No. We do not want you." "Then I shall go straight back to Tarhaven and tell the police all about myself, and Captain Kyles." "You are afraid." "I am not, but," Maud looked cunning and snarled, "I am desperate." "You shan't come----" "She shall," said Herries in a peremptory manner. "I want everyone to be present at the clearing up of this affair. Not a word, Señora, Miss Tedder comes with me, or I don't set foot on the yacht." Señora Guzman shrugged her shoulders. "Very good," she said insolently, "Bring her if you like. But I have said all, so I will go." "When shall I come to the yacht?" "Captain Kyles will let you know," and she vanished. CHAPTER XXIV STARTLING NEWS Herries brought Maud back to the "Moated Hall," and delivered her into the hands of Mrs. Mountford. The girl recovered herself wonderfully on the journey, but said very little. All the time in the train she sat huddled in her corner of the compartment, and eyed Angus in a most spiteful manner. Her cousin saw the look and wondered what was in her mind. Had he known he might not have pitied her as he did. As it was, he felt truly sorry for the miserable girl. By her own foolishness, she had forfeited a fortune, she had been deserted by the man whom she had striven to take from another woman, and had lost her father by a violent death. Had not Maud troubled her head over the buccaneer's good looks, her father would never have made a second will; he would never have gone to the "Marsh Inn" to meet his death. For all the terrible things that had happened, Maud had only herself to blame. Yet she talked of Fate, and bemoaned herself as the most unfortunate creature in the world. Many people cheat themselves in the same way.