"Because I want to thank you for saving my husband," replied Mrs. Malton. "They told me you were busy, but I have waited in the next room for half-an-hour to see you. My husband is safe." "I congratulate you--and him," answered Caprice, in an ironical tone. "It is to be hoped Mr. Evan Malton won't embezzle any more money." Naball, outside, could hardly refrain from giving a low whistle. So this was the man mentioned by Fenton--his own familiar friend--and Kitty Marchurst had helped him. In Heaven's name, why? "It is due to your kindness that he is safe," said Mrs. Malton, in a faltering tone; "you replaced the money." "Not at all," said Caprice; "I never replaced a sixpence." "But you did, you did!" said Mrs. Malton vehemently, falling on her knees before Kitty; "every penny of the money has been paid back, and only you could have done it." "I did not pay a penny, I tell you," said Caprice; "still, I have had something to do with it." "I knew it! I knew it!" cried the poor wife, kissing the hand of the actress. "May God bless you for doing this good action." "I wouldn't have done it had it not been for the sake of your child," said Kitty coldly. "Wonderful," thought the listener; "Kitty Marchurst has a heart." "Good-bye, good-bye!" said Mrs. Malton, rising to her feet. "I may never see you again." "I've no doubt of that," replied Caprice, with a cynical laugh; "you've got all you wanted, so now you leave me." "No, no!" cried the other woman vehemently. "I am not ungrateful. I will visit you if you will let me. I am sorry for you. I pity you." "Keep your pity and your visits for some one else--I want neither." "But your heart?" "My heart is stone; it was hardened long, long ago. Leave me--I have done all I can for you--now go." Mrs. Malton made a step forward, and, catching Kitty in her arms, kissed her. "God bless you!" she cried, in a low voice, and as she kissed her she felt a hot tear fall on her hand. It was Caprice who wept, but, with a stifled sigh, she pushed Mrs. Malton away. "You are a good woman," she said hoarsely. "Go! go! and if you ever think of me, let it be as one who, however bad her life, did at least one good action." She sank back into a chair, covering her face with her hands, while Mrs. Malton, with a look of pity on her face, and a low "God bless you," left the room. Meanwhile, the detective outside was smitten with a kind of remorse at having overheard this pathetic scene. "I've found out what Caprice wanted the money for," he muttered; "but I'm sorry for her--very sorry. I never knew before she was a woman--I thought she was a fiend." Kitty, drying her eyes, arose from her seat and dragged herself slowly across the room to the window near which the detective was standing. He heard her coming and tried to escape, and in another moment Kitty had opened the window, and they were face to face. "Mr. Naball," she cried, with a sudden, angry light in her eyes, "you have heard--"