"Oh, no, she was quite young and pretty," said the detective, laughing his happy, good-humored laugh. "But surely----" began the listener. "Mrs. Ernscliffe's maid was in disguise, both as to name and appearance," said Mr. Kidder, interrupting him. "Perhaps a bit of her history might interest you, sir, seeing that she has served you a good turn." "I should like to hear it," said Captain Ernscliffe. "But wait a moment, Kidder, until I ring for lights. It is growing dark." When the gas was lighted, and the curtains dropped over the windows, he turned back to his visitor and said: "Go on, Kidder, let me hear Elsie Gray's history." "Well, sir, Elsie Gray's true name is Jennie Thorn, and she is not more than twenty years old. "She was a poor farmer's daughter when this man whom she has tracked to his doom deceived and ruined her under a pretense of marriage. "The poor girl went home to her parents, but her honest father drove her away with curses when he discovered her condition and learned her sad story. "Her mother secretly befriended her, and found her a place to stay in hiding until her child was born. "Fortunately for the poor girl it was born dead, and then she set out upon a mission which she had sworn to accomplish--her revenge upon the man who had betrayed her. "In the meanwhile her enraged father had shot the deceiver, and thinking him dead had fled the country. "But the wicked deceiver was proof against his enemy's bullet. He was born to be hung, you see, sir, and he was proof against anything else. "So he got well, and was clear out of the country before poor Jennie was on her feet again. She was sorely disappointed, but she bided her time." Captain Ernscliffe began to look as if he took an interest in the history of the farmer's pretty daughter. "She sought for him everywhere as far as her money would carry her," went on the detective, "but she never saw or heard of her enemy. "At length her mother came to the city with her, and together they continued their unrelenting quest, for they both had sworn to take a terrible revenge upon the destroyer of innocence." He paused a moment, and Captain Ernscliffe, half forgetful of his own troubles in this sorrowful story, exclaimed: "Go on, Kidder. I am very much interested in Jennie Thorn's sad story." "One night they went to the theater," continued the detective, "and there they saw upon the stage the beautiful lady that is now your wife." "Ah!" exclaimed Captain Ernscliffe, with a start. "Yes, sir; you begin to get an inkling of things now," said Kidder. "Well, to go on, Jennie Thorn recognized the lady. She had seen her before, and knew that the man who had wronged her was an enemy of Madame De Lisle. She knew that they hated each other, and that he had sworn to take a terrible revenge upon her. Well, sir, in that minute Jennie Thorn began to see what would be her own best chance to find her betrayer again."