r."

"How then?"

"_Just as I got the certificate of your marriage with Mr. Percy._"

The woman sprang to her feet. "You--you are--"

"Celine Leroque, madame!" with an imitation of the ladies' maid
accent.

Cora fell back in her chair panting.

"Now," resumed Madeline, "why don't you reflect that, if it were my
intention to denounce you, I could have done that long ago. Are you
not aware that my step-father is my enemy?"

"Not--in that way."

"In that way precisely. John Arthur tortured my mother until she died
heart-broken. He made my childhood miserable, and shut me up in a
convent to pass my girlhood in loneliness. He bartered me in marriage
to a man older and uglier than himself, for ten thousand dollars. Then
I defied him to his face; swore to revenge upon him my mother's wrongs
and mine; and ran away. Do you understand now why I have allowed you
to persecute John Arthur?"

Cora's courage began to revive. "I think I do," she said, slowly.

"You see, Mrs. Arthur, it is in my power to arrest you; first, for
Bigamy, and second, for Attempted Poisoning."

Cora looked at her coolly. "But you won't do either," she said.

"Won't I? And why not?"

"Because, to do either, you must bring your own name into too
prominent notice."

Madeline laughed scornfully.

[Illustration: "You--you are--!" "_Celine Leroque_, madame."--page
362.]

"You forget," she said, "I left my home for revenge. I feigned to be
dead--I returned to Oakley in disguise--for revenge. Do you think that
I will let my pride stay me when, by exposing you, I can complete my
vengeance upon John Arthur?"

Cora's countenance fell. She had not viewed the matter in just that
light. She made no answer, and Madeline continued:

"Don't flatter yourself that I shall hesitate, if I cannot effect my
purpose otherwise. I am not disposed just now to war with you, but if
you do not see fit to accept my terms, then I must turn against you."

"What do you want of me?" sullenly.

"I want you to continue as we have begun. I want Miss Arthur, Mr.
Percy, and your brother, to believe us the best of friends. Above all,
I want John Arthur to think us allies."

"And what then?"

"Then, you will be safe so far as I am concerned. Then, when I have
accomplished my purpose and hold in my hands the keys to the Oakley
coffers, you shall have money, and shall go hence to resume your
career in whatever field you choose."

"What security have I for all this?"