"That there was a connection between her murder and that of Mr. Grent," finished Torry, with significance. This time Maria fairly rose to her feet, and seemed much agitated. "Connection?" she stammered. "Impossible; what could Julia have to do with Mr. Grent?" "That is what I wish to find out, miss. Julia Brawn met Mr. Grent in Mortality-lane and----" "Killed him?" "No; but she was accompanied by some unknown man, who did. Afterwards she and her confederate went to Cleopatra's Needle, and there she was killed." "By her confederate?" Darrel uttered an ejaculation. "That is a new idea," he said approvingly. "It might be so." "Impossible," said Torry roughly. "If Julia was killed by her accomplice there would have been no need for the second Blue Mummy. Eh?" The query was drawn from the detective by a sudden start on the part of Maria when he mentioned the Blue Mummy. "What do you know about it, miss?" he asked brusquely. "About--about what?" she said nervously. Ever confident in the power of a surprise to extort the truth, by unexpectedly startling the nerves. Torry drew the Blue Mummy, which he always carried with him, from his pocket, and tossed it lightly into the lap of Maria. "About that," he said abruptly. The girl gave a faint cry, and looked down into her lap as though a snake were coiled in it, then quietly swooned away. "Ah!" said Torry unmoved, "a guilty conscience!" "You brute!" cried Darrel, starting to his feet, "don't you see the poor girl has fainted? Ring the bell? call the servants." "Do neither," shouted the detective savagely; "Leave the matter to me. Get water out of that vase of flowers, and sprinkle it on her face. I have smelling salts here, which I always carry for cases of this kind. Oh, it is not the first time I have seen ladies faint when brought into contact with the law." "What do you mean?" asked Darrel angrily, as he sprinkled the white face with water. "I mean," said Torry, holding a bottle under Maria's nostrils, "That we shall have some strange revelations when this lady recovers." "She is recovering now," cried Frank eagerly, "Thank God." Donna Maria heaved a long sigh, and the colour began to come back slowly to her cheeks. Then she opened her eyes languidly and sat up with an effort. Torry had been judicious enough to put the image into his pocket again, and, at the first moments of her recovery, Maria could not collect her scattered senses sufficiently to remember what had occurred. All at once the memory came back, and, flushing a deep crimson, she staggered to her feet, and made as if to leave the room. Torry placed himself in her way. "No, madam," said he, sternly, "you do not leave until you explain." "Excuse me, sir, I am not well," faltered Maria appealingly. But the detective was not to be moved by such feminine wiles, "You must remain and answer my questions," he said coldly.