ter Claire who
stood revealed, but the charming and lovely La Belle Colette. The next
instant he laughed like a hysterical woman.

"By heavens, but that _was_ an inspiration!" he exclaimed. "Don't be
frightened, beautiful Colette. I was prepared for a tragedy, but this
discovery reveals a farce."

Her terror gave way to stupefaction when she recognized him.

"So it's three instead of two," he went on. "The lovely dancer is also
the Escaped Nun and the late Edith Conyngham. And Curran knew it of
course, who was our detective. That's bad. But Judy Haskell claims you
as a goddaughter. You are Curran's wife. You are Sister Magdalen's poor
friend. You are Katharine Kerrigan. You are Sister Claire. You are
Messalina. La Belle Colette, you are the very devil."

She recovered from her fright at his laugh, in which some amusement
tinkled, and also something terrible. They were in a lonely place, he
had made the situation, and she felt miserably helpless.

"You need not blame Curran," she said decisively. "He knew the game, but
he has no control over me. I want to go home, and I want to know right
away your terms. It's all up with me. I confess. But let me know what
you are going to do with me."

"Take you home to your husband," said Arthur. "Come."

They drove to the little apartment where Curran lay peacefully sleeping,
and where he received his erratic wife with stupor. The three sat down
in the parlor to discuss the situation, which was serious enough, though
Arthur now professed to take it lightly. Colette stared at him like a
fascinated bird and answered his questions humbly.

"It's all very simple," said she. "I am truly Edith Conyngham, and Judy
Haskell is my godmother, and I was in a convent out West. I was expelled
for a love caper, and came back to my friends much older in appearance
than I had need to be. The Escaped-Nun-racket was a money-maker. What I
really am, you see. I am the dancer, La Belle Colette. All the rest is
disguise."

Curran asked no questions and accepted the situation composedly.

"She is in your hands," he said.

"I place her in yours for the present," Arthur replied, glowering as he
thought of Louis. "Detectives will shadow you both until I come to a
decision what to do with you. Any move to escape and you will be nipped.
Then the law takes its course. As for you, La Belle Colette, say your
prayers. I am still tempted to send you after Jezebel."

"You are a terrible man," she whimper