She turned her head and looked at him suddenly, her blue eyes dark with fear and wonder. "What can you mean?" she exclaimed. "I mean that when I came upon your picture in your locket just now the mystery of your identity was solved for me," he replied, coolly, glad that he had roused her at last. "I do not understand you," she said through her lips that had suddenly grown white and trembling. A slight smile curved Julius Revington's mustached lips, as he saw how much he had startled her. "Master rather than slave," he repeated to himself, vindictively, for that was the way he interpreted her eloquent description of her ideal. "I told you the faces were not strange to me," he said. "Shall I tell you their names?" "You cannot," she returned, miserably. "Do not deceive yourself," he retorted. "The old man is Ronald Brooke, the beautiful woman is his daughter, Elaine." A startled cry broke from her lips, she flashed her eyes upon him in a swift, horrified gaze, a terrible suspicion darting through her heart. "You know her?" she cried out, hoarsely. His answer dispelled the horrible dread that had clutched at her heart with icy fingers. "No, I have never met her in my life, but I have seen her picture before," he said. She gave a gasp of relief. It had been horrible to fancy for a moment that this man whom she despised in her heart could be her mother's betrayer. "You have seen her picture before?" she repeated. "Where?" "It depends on yourself whether I ever answer that question or not," he said. "On me?" she asked, with some wonder. "Yes," he replied; "for if I should answer that question it would involve a long story. Before I tell it to you I shall expect to receive a like confidence from you." She shut her lips tightly over her little clenched teeth, and he saw the blue eyes flash mutinously. "You refuse?" he asked. "Yes," she replied, dauntlessly. "You have startled and surprised me and I know not how much you know of me and my past. But at least you will never learn more from me." He could not forbear a glance of annoyance. "Miss Berlin, you are certainly the most willful child I ever saw," he exclaimed. "What good can it do you to refuse to tell me what relationship you bear to Ronald Brooke and his daughter?" CHAPTER XXV. Irene raised her large blue eyes to Mr. Revington's face. They were full of anguish and despair. "I have told you already that the secret is not mine to reveal," she said. "Then I must answer my own question," he replied, with a swift glance around him to make sure that he was not overheard; "you are Elaine Brooke's _illegitimate daughter_!" A low cry of bitterness and despair shrilled from her lips. It confirmed his hazardous guess. "You cannot deny it!" he uttered, triumphantly. "My God, are you man or devil, Julius Revington?" she exclaimed. "How came you by this knowledge?"