"We talked about that before," said Ruck, taking up his hat; "but now that the real Prince Charming has come on the scene, I see that there is no chance for me. I will allow you to marry Paslow----" "Allow me!" cried Miss Hedge indignantly. "Allow me!" echoed Vivian, clenching his fists. "I will allow you," repeated the Major smoothly, "on condition that you give me the Obi necklace." "What?" asked Beatrice, starting back, "Colonel Hall's----" "It was his property. I knew him very well," interrupted Ruck. "He gave that necklace to Mrs. Hedge." "To my mother? Impossible! The necklace was stolen when Colonel Hall was murdered in this very house." "So it was thought, but I know otherwise. Colonel Hall gave the necklace to Mrs. Hedge, who was his cousin, just before the murder. I learned that from Alpenny, who was in the house at the time; and that was why Alpenny married Mrs. Hedge--he wanted the necklace. And that is why I wished to marry you," added Ruck, smiling blandly, "as I want the necklace. It is valued at ten thousand pounds, and Alpenny promised to give it to you when we married." "I don't know how much of this is true, or how much is not," said Beatrice, looking puzzled, and pressing her hands to her head; "but I have not got the necklace. I never knew that my stepfather had it. There is no need for you to get angry, Major Ruck. I know nothing about the necklace save what I heard from Mrs. Lilly; and she told me that Colonel Hall was murdered, and the necklace was stolen." "The necklace was given to Mrs. Hedge," said Ruck, who was now very angry, "and Alpenny promised to give it to you. If you give it to me, I will go out of your life and you can marry Paslow; if not, I can stop this marriage." "I defy you to do your worst," said Paslow savagely. "Don't do that; it might be dangerous," said Ruck, with a meaning look. "Well, Miss Hedge?" He turned to Beatrice. "I know nothing about the necklace," she replied. "If you married me you would marry a pauper. Lady Watson has Mr. Alpenny's money; and if he did receive the necklace from my mother, he certainly never gave it to me, or even spoke of its existence." Ruck turned pale and looked at the ground. "Can Lady Watson have secured it?" he muttered. "You had better ask her. And now, Major Ruck, that I know your real reason for wishing to marry me, I may tell you that I would willingly have given the Obi necklace to escape such a match!" and she turned her back on him scornfully. The Major, notwithstanding that he was in the house, and in the presence of a lady, put on his hat. He had quite lost his suave manners, and looked thoroughly angry. "I shall take my leave, Miss Hedge," he said, bowing ironically. "Marry Paslow Whenever you choose; he is free now, as he says; but if trouble comes of your marriage, do not say that I did not warn you." "What trouble can come?" asked Beatrice, turning like a lioness.