"No, she was not. Of course, she regretted his awful end, and that he should have been so wicked, but he was never kind to her and she had not much love for him. I don't know," ended Miss Moon, reflectively, "if we can be sure that he ever committed a crime." "Yes, he did," declared Halliday, quickly; "every single member of that society had to commit a crime in order to belong to the gang. Vincent, I truly believe, was not a bad man, as his sole idea was a craze for inventing aeroplanes. But Queen Beelzebub, wanting him for her purpose, no doubt inveigled him into committing himself as a criminal, as she inveigled Mrs. Jarsell and Curberry." "Poor Lord Curberry," sighed Lillian; "he is more to be pitied than blamed. I don't think the young man who holds the title now cared that he died." "Can you expect him to?" asked Dan, sceptically, "seeing he has got a title and a lot of money. In a clean way, too, for Curberry consented to the murder of two relatives so as to secure what he wanted. No, Lillian, it is your kind heart that makes you pity Curberry, but he was not a good man. No decent fellow would have belonged to that association of demons. But I think we have discussed the subject threadbare. Let us talk of more pleasant matters." "About Mr. Laurance and his marriage?" cried Lillian, gaily. "Well, yes, although being selfishly in love, I would much rather discuss our own. Freddy will be able to marry Mildred now since you have given him enough money to start a newspaper. It is very good of you." "I don't think so," said Miss Moon, as they began to climb the steps again, and return to the house. "Mr. Laurance helped you to learn who killed my dear father, and deserved a reward, as you did. I gave him money and----" "And you gave me yourself, so I have been rewarded very richly. Well, Freddy will make a very good proprietor and editor of a newspaper, and Mildred can help him to make it a success. All's well that ends well." "And you are quite--quite happy, dear?" "Quite, quite. Only I fear," Dan sighed, "that some people will call me a fortune hunter, seeing that I, without a penny, am marrying a rich woman." Lillian stopped in the path up to the house and took hold of the lapels of Dan's coat to shake him. "How can you talk such nonsense," she said reproachfully; "why, after your portrait and an account of all you have done appearing in the papers, you could have married half a dozen women." "But none so sweet as you, dear," said Halliday, kissing her, for her lips were temptingly near his own; "well, I must not despise my good fortune. But what can I give you in return, Miss Cr[oe]sus?" "A promise," said Lillian, earnestly, "that you will not go up any more in those horrid flying-machines. I shall always be afraid of losing you if you do; you know that quite well." "Let me take a tiny little flight occasionally," coaxed Dan, gaily.