ago."

With a muttered curse, Lucian Davlin flings himself down in the seat
he had lately occupied, the watchful officers, pistol in hand,
standing on either side of him.

Edward Percy, for the first time since her entrance, withdraws his
eyes from Madeline's face and casts a frightened glance about him.
Having done this, he feels anything but reassured.

Near the outer door stand the two "well-diggers," who have entered
like spirits, and now look as if, for the first time since their
advent in Oakley, they feel quite at home. Nearest to Madeline stands
Clarence Vaughan. Back of these, a little in the shadow, two
others--two women. One stands with her face turned away, and he can
only tell that the form draped in the rich India shawl is tall and
graceful. But the other--she moves out from the shadow and her eyes
meet his full.

Great heavens! it is Claire Keith!

He moves restlessly, his fair face flushing and paling. The first
impulse of his coward heart is flight. But the two "well-diggers" are
not surmountable obstacles. He turns his face again toward the Nemesis
who is now gazing scornfully at him.

"I have no intention of neglecting any one of you four," she says,
icily. "Edward Percy, I told you last night that I would burn certain
papers in your presence. I am quite ready to keep my word. There will
be no use for them after to-night. But I shall not stifle the
testimony of living witnesses against you." Then she raised her voice
slightly. "Dr. Le Guise, bring in your patient."

John Arthur, pallid with fear and rage, stands upon the threshold of
the drawing-room, closely attended by the Professor and Henry.

Then Madeline turned to the now terror-stricken Cora. "Come forward,
Mrs. John Arthur," she says, scornfully. "It is time to let you
speak!"

When Edward Percy turns his eyes toward Claire, she has instinctively
moved nearer to Madeline's side, at the same time favoring him with a
look so fraught with contempt that the villain lowers his eyes, and
turns away his face. As Madeline now addresses the fair adventuress,
Claire again moves. She has been standing directly between Cora and
her Nemesis. Now she takes up a position quite apart from her friends,
and near the officer who guards Lucian Davlin on the right.

Cora sees that all is lost. But she recalls the promises of safety
given her by Madeline, and nerves herself for a last attempt at cool
insolence. Her quick wits have taken in the situati