Don't speak so loud, Gerard."

"Oh, very well. But look here, Madam Clever, did you manage that bit of
business?"

Katrine raised her soft, white hands.

"Don't do that," said the young man. "You make me want to kiss them."

"You would not be so foolish, now."

"I don't know. And look here, I don't like you being so thick with
Capel."

"Don't you? He wants to marry me."

"I'll break his neck first."

"You will act sensibly and well, _mon cher_," said Katrine, "that is, if
you mean that we are to be married by-and-by."

"Mean it? Of course."

"But not on a fortune of one hundred pounds each, _mon cher_."

"Good Heavens! No."

"Then hold your tongue, and say nothing."

"But I shall say something, if I see you working up a flirtation with
that cad."

"You will say nothing, do nothing, see nothing. We cannot marry and
starve."

"But tell me, Kate--honour bright--you don't care for this Capel?"

"I care for him!"

"Tell me, then, what do you mean to do?"

"Have my share of that money," said Katrine, with a peculiar hardening
of her face.

"Bah! I don't believe the treasure ever existed. It was a craze on the
old man's part."

"You must be careful. Don't say or do anything to annoy Paul Capel or
Mr Girtle. We must stay here. It was no craze on the old man's part;
maybe I can tell where the fortune is."

"What? You mean that?"

"Hush! I am working for us both."

"But tell me--"

"Hush! She has finished the song," said Katrine, leaning back and
clapping her hands softly. "Thank you, thank you," she said. "Oh, what
a while it is since I heard that dear old ballad."

The evening wore away till bed-time, when the butler brought in and lit
the candles, according to his custom, Katrine and Lydia taking theirs,
and going at once, and Gerard Artis following after partaking of a glass
of soda-water, leaving the old lawyer and Capel together.

They sat in silence for some minutes, when the old lawyer said:

"I do not seem to get any nearer to the unravelling of this knot, Mr
Capel."

"Do you still adhere to the opinion that the treasure was there?"

"Yes; and we shall find it soon."

"By a masterly inactivity?"

"Oh, no," replied the old man, "for I am taking steps of my own to
redeem myself. I don't think those jewels can be sold, or one of those
notes changed, without word being brought to me."

Capel felt won by the old man's manner. He shook hands with him warmly,
and s