nly
things she knew of her own knowledge, were the goodnesses of these
two. They were her parents. And now for the first time they needed
her. The mortgage their generosity had imposed on her had fallen due.

How could she at the first unsupported obloquy of a stranger turn
against them? Her first loyalty was due to them, and no other loyalty
was under test. Something swept her to her feet. She ran to them and,
as far as she could, gathered them into her arms. They wept like two
children whom reproaches have hardened into defiance, but whom
kindness has melted.

Verrinder watched the spectacle with some surprise and not altogether
with scorn. Whatever else Miss Webling was, she was a good sport. She
stuck to her team in defeat.

He said, not quite harshly, "So, Miss Webling, you cast your lot with
them."

"I do."

"Do you believe that what I said was true?"

"No."

"Really, you should be careful. Those messages you carried incriminate
you."

"I suppose they do, though I never knew what was in them. No, I'll
take that back. I'm not trying to crawl out of it."

"Then since you confess so much, I shall have to ask you to come with
them."

"To the--the Tower of London?"

"The car is ready."

Marie Louise was stabbed with fright. She seized the doomed twain in a
faster embrace.

"What are you going to do with these poor souls?"

"Their souls my dear Miss Webling, are outside our jurisdiction."

"With their poor bodies, then?"

"I am not a judge or a jury, Miss Webling. Everything will be done
with propriety. They will not be torpedoed in midocean without
warning. They will have the full advantage of the British law to the
last."

That awful word jarred them all. But Sir Joseph was determined to make
a good end. He drew himself up with another effort.

"Excuse, pleass, Mr. Verrinder--might it be we should take with us a
few little things?"

"Of course."

"Thang gyou." He bowed and turned to go, taking his wife and Marie
Louise by the arm, for mutual support.

"If you don't mind, I'll come along," said Mr. Verrinder.

Sir Joseph nodded. The three went heavily up the grandiose stairway as
if a gibbet waited at the top. They went into Sir Joseph's room, which
adjoined that of his wife. Mr. Verrinder paused on the sill somewhat
shyly:

"This is a most unpleasant task, but--"

Marie Louise hesitated, smiling gruesomely.

"My room is across the hall. You can hardly be in both places at once,
ca