I have lost you!"

"No, no," I cried. "You have not lost me, Phrida. I still believe in your
purity and honesty," I went on, clasping her passionately to my heart,
she sobbing bitterly the while. "I love you and I still believe in you,"
I whispered into her ear.

She heaved a great sigh.

"Ah! I wonder if you really speak the truth?" she murmured. "If I thought
you still believed in me, how happy I should be. I would face my enemies,
and defy them."

"I repeat, Phrida, that notwithstanding this suspicion upon you, I love
you," I said very earnestly.

"Then you will not prejudge me!" she asked, raising her tear-stained eyes
to mine. "You will not believe evil of me until--until I can prove to
you the contrary. You will not believe what Mrs. Petre has told you?" she
implored.

"I promise, dearest, that I will believe nothing against you," I said
fervently, kissing her cold, hard lips. "But cannot you, in return,
assist me in solving the mystery of Harrington Gardens. Who was the girl
found there? Surely you know?"

"No, I don't. I swear I don't," was her quick reply, though her face was
blanched to the lips.

"But Mrs. Petre gave me to understand that you knew her," I said.

"Yes--that woman!" she cried in anger. "She has lied to you, as to the
others. Have I not told you that she is my most deadly enemy?"

"Then she may go to the police--who knows! How can we close her mouth?"

My love drew a long breath and shook her head. The light had faded, and
only the fitful flames of the fire illuminated the sombre room. In the
dark shadows she presented a pale, pathetic little figure, her face white
as death, her thin, delicate hands clasped before her in dismay and
despair.

"Have you any idea where Digby is at this moment?" I asked her slowly,
wondering whether if he were an intimate friend he had let her know his
hiding-place.

"No. I have not the slightest idea," was her faint reply.

"Ah! If only I could discover him I would wring the truth from him," I
exclaimed between my teeth.

"And if you did so, I myself would be imperilled," she remarked. "No,
Teddy, you must not do that if--if you love me and would protect me."

"Why?"

"If you went to him he would know that I had spoken, and then he would
fulfil the threats he has so often made. No, you must not utter a single
word. You must, for my sake, still remain his friend. Will you, dear?"

"After what you have told me!" I cried. "Never!"

"But you mu