"Lola Velez." George looked and felt uneasy. "You change color. Oh, I have heard all about you and that dancer." "I assure you that my connection with that lady is perfectly innocent." Mrs. Ward scoffed. "Lady!" she said, sneering. "What next? However, I do not wish to hear the particulars. Such creatures are nothing to me. And if you clear yourself of this very shady business in Amelia Square by discovering the true assassin, I shall overlook Lola Velez." "There is no need to overlook her or me." "I think there is," said Mrs. Ward, frigidly, and with a wave of her slim hand. "There is no more to be said, Mr. Brendon. You know my decision, and as Dorothy's mother I have some power, I hope. Now I will send her to you, and you can say what you like--in fact, you can communicate to her the state of my feelings. But," added Mrs. Ward, shooting a Parthian arrow, "I should not mention Lola Velez if I were you. Good-by, I shall not see you for many a long day, I expect." "And hope," said Brendon, much mortified. "And hope," replied Mrs. Ward, coolly. "You are the last man in the world I should like for my son-in-law. Marry that dancer," and with a shrill, unpleasant laugh Mrs. Ward vanished. Brendon paced the room, waiting for Dorothy. How Mrs. Ward had learned of his connection with Lola Velez he could not understand. Brendon was perfectly innocent, and what he had done for the dancer was dictated by pure kindness. But even if he explained the whole circumstances of his meeting and of his philanthropy to Dorothy, she was a woman, when all was said and done, and might not believe him. On the whole, he decided to take Mrs. Ward's advice and hold his tongue on the subject of the dancer. On some future occasion he might be able to explain, and at the present moment he had the satisfaction of knowing that his conscience was clear. He had just arrived at this decision when Dorothy entered the room. The next moment she was in his arms, and the two entered Paradise at once. "My dearest, I am so glad to see you," said Dorothy in her soft voice as they sat down. "I wrote, but you did not come." "I was engaged, darling." Dorothy nodded. "I know, at the inquest which was held on that poor creature." "Why do you take an interest in the case, Dorothy?" "Oh, because you went to stop at the house, and it was so strange that she should have died on that very night." "So your mother says," said George, uncomfortably. "I really think she believes that I have something to do with the matter." "Oh, that's nonsense," said Dorothy, serenely; "but mother does not like you very much, George, and----" "She hates me you mean." "Well," responded Miss Ward, candidly, "if you ask me to tell the truth, I think she does. But you know what my mother is. I--no, if I cannot say good of her, let me at least say nothing bad. But I love you, George, you know that."