"That is what I wish to know about," said Madame Coralie, sharply. "Eddy told me that you had been talking to him, and insisted that I should come with him this day. Perhaps you will tell me what it all means. This fool," she added, glaring at Eddy through her veil, "pretends he knows nothing." Eddy swallowed something and balanced his smart silk hat on his knee. "I only know that Miss Toat seems to think that I killed--er--Lady Branwin." "That is ridiculous," said Madame Coralie, resolutely. "Are you going to re-open that painful case?" she asked Perry Toat, abruptly. "I don't think that it was ever closed," said the detective, quietly, "and in view of what Miss Pearl overheard it is necessary to talk about the matter, however painful it may be to you, Madame." "What did Miss Pearl overhear?" "You shall know later." "It is my belief," said Madame Coralie, folding her arms and speaking in a loud tone, "that Miss Pearl is implicated in the matter." "We shall prove that in a certain way," said Perry Toat, quickly, "as Miss Pearl certainly saw Lady Branwin dead. She stole down into the lower passage and entered the bedroom about nine." "What was she doing wandering about my house at that hour?" demanded Madame Coralie, fiercely. "You shall learn soon. Meanwhile, we must wait for the arrival of Colonel Ilse," and she looked directly at Madame Coralie to see what effect the name had on her. Whatever recollections the name brought to Madame Coralie, she did not reveal that they startled her, but remained silent behind the thick folds of the veil which masked her face. Audrey would have spoken, if only to ask why Perry Toat was badgering her aunt, when the door opened and Colonel Ilse made his appearance. He looked spic and span, and entirely military in his upright carriage. "I am glad to see you, Colonel Ilse," said Perry Toat. And Audrey, whose hand was on the arm of her aunt, felt the woman quiver, although she did not open her mouth. The Colonel seemed rather perturbed, and addressed himself to Miss Toat after a hurried glance at Audrey. "You wrote saying you had found the nurse who stole my daughter Elsie," he said in faltering tones. "Yes," said Perry Toat, deliberately pointing to Madame Coralie, "there she is, Colonel." "It is a lie!" breathed Madame Coralie, under her breath. "It is not a lie," said the detective, coldly, "no more than the fact that your husband killed Lady Branwin is a lie." Eddy jumped to his feet with a shrill, hysterical laugh. "I did not kill Lady Branwin," he said excitedly. "I can prove that I did not." "Hold your tongue, you fool!" cried Madame Coralie, savagely. "Prove your innocence," commanded Perry Toat, who looked puzzled. "Lady Branwin," said Vail, still shrilly, "is not dead." "Not dead?" Everyone looked bewildered. Eddy stretched out his hand and pulled the veil from his wife's face. "This woman is Lady Branwin," he said, with a choking note in his voice.