Ireton was waiting to receive us. She was a
strikingly handsome brunette, but to-night her face, which normally,
I think, possessed rich colouring, was almost pallid, and there was a
hunted look in her dark eyes which made me wish to be anywhere rather
than where I found myself. Without preamble she rose and addressed
Harley:

"I fail to understand your message, sir," she said, and I admired the
imperious courage with which she faced him. "You say you have recovered
a handbag which I had lost?"

Harley bowed, and from the pocket of his greatcoat took out a
silken-tasselled bag.

"The one which you left in the Cafe Dame, Lady Ireton," he replied.
"Here also I have"--from another pocket he drew out a diamond
ring--"something which was extorted from you by the fellow Meyer."

Without touching her recovered property, Lady Ireton sank slowly
down into the chair from which she had arisen, her gaze fixed as if
hypnotically upon the speaker.

"My friend, Mr. Knox, is aware of all the circumstances," continued
the latter, "but he is as anxious as I am to terminate this painful
interview. I surmise that what occurred on Wednesday night was
this--(correct me if I am wrong): While dining with Mr. De Lana you
heard sounds of altercation in the street below. May I suggest that you
recognized one of the voices?"

Lady Ireton, still staring straight before her at Harley, inclined her
head in assent.

"I heard my father's voice," she said hoarsely.

"Quite so," he continued. "I am aware that Major Ragstaff is your
father." He turned to me: "Do you recognize the touch of genius at
last?" Then, again addressing Lady Ireton: "You naturally suggested to
your companion that he should look out of the window in order to learn
what was taking place. The next thing you knew was that he had fallen
into the street below?"

Lady Ireton shuddered and raised her hands to her face.

"It is retribution," she whispered. "I have brought this ruin upon
myself. But he does not deserve------"

Her voice faded into silence, and:

"You refer to your husband, Lord Ireton?" said Harley.

Lady Ireton nodded, and again recovering power of speech:

"It was to have been our last meeting," she said, looking up at Harley.

She shuddered, and her eyes blazed into sudden fierceness. Then,
clenching her hands, she looked aside.

"Oh, God, the shame of this hour!" she whispered.

And I would have given much to have been spared the spectacle of this