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"The lawyers are coming down to-morrow; the evidence is quite complete." There was silence for a minute or two; then Celia, with her heart beating fast and heavily, said, in a still lower voice, "There is something else I must tell you, Lady Heyton. Mr. Clendon, the real Marquess, has has a son." She stopped to let this sink in, and Miriam's brows knit slightly; then she said, almost inaudibly,
When the man had finished with him, Heyton lit a cigarette and leant back in his chair as if he were waiting for something. He had not to wait long.
He knew that she thought him guilty of wronging Susie Morton; it was just possible that she had heard of the forged cheque. He bit his lip with mortification and a dull anger, as the desire rose in him to go up to the Grange and clear himself. But he could only do so by breaking the promise he had given to Heyton, by ruining Miriam's happiness.
His hand shook so much that, for a moment or two, he was afraid to touch the chain, lest it should jingle and wake the Marquess; with an effort, Heyton controlled the shaking hand, and, after some fumbling, took the keys from the ring; as he did so, his eyes wandered apprehensively from the things he was purloining to the face on the pillow; but in reality his movements had been noiseless, and the Marquess had not awakened.
I'm playing the giddy-goat not for your sake, my man; but but for your wife's, for Miriam's." "You're crossing to-night?" asked Heyton, hesitatingly, fearfully. "If there's anything I can do to to prove my gratitude " "You couldn't prove what doesn't exist," said Dene, with a laugh. "You're incapable of gratitude.
"Who who ? Have they found out who did it?" "No," broke in Celia, swiftly and tremulously. "No one has been discovered. Mr. Jacobs, the detective, said that no one will be discovered. The jewels have been found." "I know," murmured Miriam. "There will be no more trouble," whispered Celia, soothingly. Again there was a pause, then Miriam asked brokenly, "Heyton my husband?"
I fear that you will not be able to see him. And you must have something to eat," she said, with womanly consideration. "Thank you, my dear, I need nothing," he said. As he spoke, the door was opened, none too gently, and Heyton stood on the threshold. He looked from Celia to the old man with what was intended to be a stare of haughty surprise; but was, in reality, a kind of sullen insolence.
There is a mystic fascination in precious stones and, gazing at them, Heyton yielded to that fascination and forgot for a moment, as his eyes dwelt on their flashing beauty, the need which had compelled him to steal them; but presently he released himself from the spell, thrust the jewels into the capacious pockets of his dressing-gown, locked the box and replaced it in the safe.
Miriam's hands went up to her face; but they dropped into her lap again and she looked before her and said, in a stricken voice, "I see you know everything. Yes, it was Heyton, my husband, who forged the cheque; I know it now: he is capable of anything." She shuddered. "It was to save me from the shame and unhappiness of being a felon's wife that Derrick sacrificed himself.
His voice broke and ceased; with a glance at Celia and a shrug, Lady Heyton opened the door widely, and went into the hall. "I have been making the acquaintance of Miss Grant," Celia heard her say, with an affectation of casualness. "Are you two going into the smoking-room; may I come with you? I shall feel so lonely in that big, solemn drawing-room."
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