Mrs. Berch was a tall, thin woman, with a worn, white face, and hair as black as her eyes, notwithstanding her age, which was over sixty. She was dressed in some lustreless, dark material without any trimming, and carried herself very erect. In fact there was something of the Roman matron about her, so stern and proud did she appear. Gerald liked her, as she had always been kind to him. But Mrs. Berch was something of an enigma to him. He could not understand why so bold and determined a woman should have submitted to the brutality of her late husband. Yet Mrs. Crosbie's father had behaved like a demon to his wife, as Gerald had learned from his mother. She adored her daughter, and--as the saying is--lived again in her child. "You wonder why I have called," said Mrs. Berch, in an unemotional voice, which always reminded Haskins of one talking in sleep, "especially when I was lying down with a headache when you came. But Madge asked me to bring you this," and she produced Gerald's cigarette-case. "Thank you. I left it behind by mistake and took Madge's. Here it is." Mrs. Berch arose and received the dainty trifle. "That is all I called about, Gerald. I shall take it back to Madge at once. She was much disturbed at losing it." "I don't know why she should have been," said Haskins; "she must have guessed that I had taken it, and would send it back. Oh, by the way, you may as well put this into it. I opened the case for a cigarette and found this. It fell out," and he passed along the coral hand. Mrs. Berch's dead-white face flushed, and her black eyes glittered. "I am glad that is not lost," she said eagerly. "It was this that Madge was anxious about." "What is it?" "Some ornament to which Madge attaches some value, I fancy." "H'm. Is it the badge of any society?" Mrs. Berch's flush face faded to a chalky-white. "Why do you ask?" Gerald asked a question in his turn. "Did Madge tell you what I came to see her about?" "No. Madge never betrays anyone's confidence. But I heard your story." "You heard it!" Haskins stepped back a pace in his astonishment. "Yes!" said Mrs. Berch coldly, and slipping the case along with the coral hand into her pocket. "I was asleep on the sofa in the other room, which is, as you know, divided from the drawing-room by curtains. I woke to hear what you said about that girl and Major Rebb. In the interests of my daughter I listened." "And you intend to tell Major Rebb?" "No. Madge asked me to hold my tongue. And indeed, Gerald, I would do so for your own sake. Major Rebb is an ill man to meddle with." Haskins threw back his head defiantly. "I am not afraid of Rebb," he said, in a haughty tone. "I went to see him to-day to explain myself, but he is in Devonshire: gone to see his unfortunate ward, I expect. When he returns I shall demand an explanation." "He may not give it to you," said Mrs. Berch, pursing up her mouth. "He must. I love Mavis and I intend to marry her." "But if she is mad----"