wail. Sir Joseph, who had been
trying to quiet her by patting her hand, paused with his palm
uplifted.

Before Marie Louise could speak she saw that the old couple was not
alone. By the mantel stood Mr. Verrinder. By the door, almost touching
Marie Louise, was a tall, grim person she had not seen. He closed the
door behind von Groener and Marie Louise.

Mr. Verrinder said, "Be good enough to sit down." To von Groener he
said, "How are you, Bickford?"

CHAPTER V

Sir Joseph was staring at the new-comer, and his German nativity told
him what Marie Louise had not been sure of, that von Groener was no
German. When Verrinder gave him an English name it shook Marie Louise
with a new dismay. Sir Joseph turned from the man to Marie Louise and
demanded:

"Marie Louise, you ditt not theenk this man is a Cherman?"

This one more shame crushed Marie Louise. She dropped into a chair,
appealing feebly to the man she had retrieved:

"Your name is not von Groener?"

Bickford grinned. "Well, in a manner of speakin'. You might say it's
my pen-name. Not that I've ever been in the pen--except with Nicky."

"Nicky is in the-- He's not ill?"

"Well, he's a bit sick. He was a bit seasick to start with, and when
we gave him the collar--well, he doesn't like his room."

"But his letters--" Marie Louise pleaded, her fears racing ahead of
her questions.

"I was always a hand at forgery, but I thought best to turn it to the
aid of me country. I'm proud if you liked me work. The last ones were
not up to the mark. _I_ was hurried, and Nicky was ugly. He refused to
answer any more questions. I had to do it all on me own. Ahfterwards I
found I had made a few mistakes."

When Marie Louise realized that this man had been calmly taking the
letters addressed to Nicky and answering them in his feigned script to
elicit further information from Sir Joseph and enmesh him further, she
dropped her hands at her sides, feeling not only convicted of crime,
but of imbecility as well.

Sir Joseph and Lady Webling spread their hands and drew up their
shoulders in surrender and gave up hope of bluff.

Verrinder wanted to be merciful and avoid any more climaxes.

"You see it's all up, Sir Joseph, don't you?" he said.

Sir Joseph drew himself again as high as he could, though the burden
of his flesh kept pulling him down. He did not answer.

"Come now, Sir Joseph, be a sport."

"The Englishman's releechion," sneered Sir Joseph, "to be ei