, in his other home at
St. Boniface.

"You drained him of his last penny, and then you offered him ten
thousand dollars to gamble with in Quebec, telling him of the delights
of the city and promising him immunity," the girl went on
remorselessly. "And for this he was to assign his property to Louis,
thinking, of course, that he could soon make his fortune at the tables.
And Louis was to marry me, and in turn sell the seigniory to you. And
so I married Louis under threat of death to my father.

"Oh, yes, _monsieur_, the plan was simple and well devised. And I knew
nothing of it. But Louis d'Epernay blurted it all out to me upon our
wedding night. I think the shame of knowing that I had been sold to
him unhinged my mind, for I ran out into the snows.

"Now you know all, _monsieur_, for I remember nothing more until I
found myself travelling back with M. Hewlett in the sleigh. You say I
was in New York. Well, I do not remember it.

"And as for Louis d'Epernay, I know nothing of him--but I will die
before he claims me as his wife!"

She had grown breathless as she proceeded with her scathing
denunciation and now stood facing him with an aspect of fearless
challenge on her face. And then I had the measure of Leroux. He
laughed, and he beat down her scorn with scorn.

"You have underestimated your price, _madame_," he sneered. "Since you
have learned so much, I will tell you more. You have cost me twenty
thousand dollars, and not ten; for besides the ten thousand paid to
your father, Louis got ten thousand also, upon the signing of the
marriage contract. So swallow that, and be proud of being priced so
high! And the seigniory is already his, and I am waiting for him to
return and sell me the ground rights for twenty-five thousand more, and
if I know Louis d'Epernay he will not wait very long to get his fingers
round it."

Jacqueline stood watching him with supreme indifference.

The man's coarse gibes had flown past her without wounding her, as they
would have hurt a lower nature.

"No doubt he will return," she answered quietly. "If he would take ten
thousand for me, surely he will take twenty-five thousand for the
seigniory. You have us in your power."

"Then why the devil doesn't he come?" roared Leroux. "If he is
intriguing with Carson, by God, I know enough to shut him up in jail
the rest of his life. And so, _madame_," he ended quietly, "it will
perhaps be worth your while to tell me why To