"My word!"

"And if I reject your terms?"

Madeline smiled oddly.

"What is to prevent my leaving this place now, to-night?" said Cora.

Madeline laughed, saying: "Do you want to try that?"

"If I did, what then?"

"Then--you would not be permitted to leave these premises!"

"Ah! you have spies in this house!"

"Yes; and out of it. There is no chance for you to escape. There is
no chance for any one to escape. Mrs. Arthur, is this man that you
call your brother really such, or is he, too, in your plot?"

Cora looked at her keenly, but it was no part of Madeline's plan to
let her know that she had ever seen Lucian Davlin before that evening.
Her face was as calm and inscrutable as the face of the sphinx.

"No," said Cora, at length "my brother does not know of it."

"I am glad of that," replied Madeline. "But, for fear of any
deception, he will be kept under _surveillance_; and if anything is
communicated to him I shall surely know it."

"Why did you rob me of those papers?" asked Cora, abruptly.

"Because," said Madeline, leaning forward, "you and I have a common
enemy."

"What! not Percy?"

"Yes, Percy!"

Cora looked amazed. "But--have you known him before?"

"I never saw him until he came to Oakley."

"I can't see how he has incurred your enmity here."

"He has not incurred my enmity here. I hated him before I ever saw
him."

"Why?"

"Because he has wronged a friend who is as dear to me as life."

"Oh!"

"Don't puzzle your brain over this; you won't be enlightened. It is
sufficient for you to know that you can serve me if you choose,
because we are both enemies of the same men." Then, rising, "Now
choose; will you remain here as my ally, or leave in disgrace, and a
prisoner, as my enemy?"

Cora reflected, and finally said: "I accept your terms."

"Very good; and now for precautions. You must allow me to supply you
with a maid."

"What?"

"You are an invalid; I am well and strong. What could be more natural
than that I should desire you to have every care and comfort that I
can desire? I shall give you my maid; she will supply the place of
Celine Leroque."

"I won't have her," cried Cora, angrily. "I won't have a jailer."

"Certainly not; you will have my maid, however. I will get another
to-morrow."

"I won't have her!"

"Nonsense." Madeline stepped quickly to the door and opened it.
"Strong," she said, softly.

Instantly in stepped Strong, who had been just outside awaitin