and fix on me as a scapegoat."

Shelton was about to retort, but Adrien intervened.

"Tell me one thing," he said quietly. "What has been your motive for all
this? I cannot believe that gain was your sole object. What harm have I
ever wrought you, Jasper? Something else must have inspired your
conduct. I ask you to give me the reason."

There was a dead silence as the gentle words were spoken. Jasper raised
his eyes to the pale face of the man he had so basely betrayed, and bit
his bloodless lips in dogged silence.

At this moment a commotion was heard at the lower end of the terrace.
Some of the servants were trying to prevent the approach of a man, who
was striving to get nearer to the little group. But he was too strong
for them; with a bound he had freed himself from their restraining arms,
and sprang forward, as if about to strike at Adrien. But Shelton thrust
himself forward and bore him back.

"Who is this? Are we to have all the scum of the earth in here? Do you
know this man, Leroy?" he asked hotly.

"Yes, I do," answered his friend in the low, restraining tones so
habitual to him.

"Yes, I should just think you do!" exclaimed the man, struggling to push
past Mortimer's outstretched arm. It isn't likely as you'll forget
Johann Wilfer, Adrien Leroy, nor me you either."

"This is too much!" cried Shelton, now thoroughly enraged at this fresh
interruption, and again he made as if to thrust the man away.

"Stop," said Adrien, glancing almost sadly at Constance, who smiled
lovingly back. "Let him speak, since he is here. Come, sir, why have you
forced your way in like this? What do you want of me?"

"What I asked a month ago," replied Wilfer. "I want my niece, Jessica. I
want her, an' I'm agoin' to have her, so you'd better own up where she
is."

Adrien turned to the others, who were standing silent in their
astonishment.

"This man," said Leroy, "has a fancied grievance against me; I know
nothing of where this girl is, or what has become of her."

"That's false!" retorted Wilfer. "He does know where the girl is; he
took her from her home, and she hasn't been seen since."

Lord Barminster glanced at him coldly.

"My good man," he said, "you heard what my son said just. You had better
make inquiries of the police. Mr. Leroy has not seen your niece."

"That is not quite true," put in Adrien gently, "I have seen her."

Lady Constance raised her pale face, and looked at him with startled but
trust