she has heard ten words of my explanation."

"Pray be calm, Lady Kirton," said Hartledon, soothingly; "be calm, as you
value your daughter's memory. We shall have the servants at the doors."

"I won't be calm; I will know the worst."

"I wish you to know it; but not others."

"Was Maude your wife?"

"No," he answered, in low tones. "Not--"

"And you are not ashamed to confess it?" she interrupted, not allowing
him to continue. But she was a little calmer in manner; and Val stood
upright before her with folded arms.

"I am ashamed and grieved to confess it; but I did not knowingly inflict
the injury. In Scotland--"

"Don't repeat the shameful tale," she cried; "I have heard from your
confederate, Carr, as much as I want to hear. What do you deserve for
your treachery to Maude?"

"All I have reaped--and more. But it was not intentional treachery; and
Maude forgave me before she died."

"She knew it! You told her? Oh, you cruel monster!"

"I did not tell her. She did as you have just done--interfered in what
did not concern her, in direct disobedience to my desire; and she found
it out for herself, as you, ma'am, have found it out."

"When?"

"The winter before her death."

"Then the knowledge killed her!"

"No. Something else killed her, as you know. It preyed upon her spirits."

"Lord Hartledon, I can have you up for fraud and forgery, and I'll do it.
It will be the consideration of Maude's fame against your punishment, and
I'll make a sacrifice to revenge, and prosecute you."

"There is no fraud where an offence is committed unwittingly," returned
Lord Hartledon; "and forgery is certainly not amongst my catalogue of
sins."

"You are liable for both," suddenly retorted the dowager; "you have stuck
up 'Maude, Countess of Hartledon,' on her monument in the church; and
what's that but fraud and forgery?"

"It is neither. If Maude did not live Countess of Hartledon, she at least
so went to her grave. We were remarried, privately, before she died. Mr.
Carr can tell you so."

"It's false!" raved the dowager.

"I arranged it, ma'am," interposed Mr. Carr. "Lord Hartledon and your
daughter confided the management to me, and the ceremony was performed in
secrecy in London"

The dowager looked from one to the other, as if she were bewildered.

"Married her again! why, that was making bad worse. Two false marriages!
Did you do it to impose upon her?"

"I see you do not understand," said Lord Hartledon.