l isn't going to stand losing that piece of
lace, without its costing somebody some money. Stephen's got to come and
be around evenings while I'm out. And I'll go with her to Rosenthal's
and fetch her back home, so that man Dalton can't frighten the life out
of her."

She put the coffee-pot where it would keep hot, and laid the cups and
saucers ready for her mistress. This done, she shut the door, and made
her way down-stairs. "Tell Mrs. Stanton when she comes in," she said to
the old woman who acted as janitor, "that I've gone to see my brother,
and that I'll be back just as soon as I can."

All hopes which had cheered Lady Barbara on her way to Rosenthal's, even
when she climbed the long stairs and was ushered into Mangan's small
office, died out of her heart when she saw the manager's face. She had
anticipated an outburst of anger, followed by a brutal tirade over
her carelessness in wrapping up the mantilla with the other pieces and
leaving it behind her the night before. Instead, he came forward to meet
her--his lean, nervous body twitching with expectation.

"Well, this is something like! Didn't think you'd turn up for an hour.
Let's have it." This with a low chuckle--the nearest he ever got to a
laugh.

"Something dreadful has happened, Mr. Mangan," she began, stumbling over
her words, her knees shaking under her. "I thought I had wrapped the
mantilla up with the pieces I brought you last night, but I see now
that--"

"You thought! Say, what are you giving me? Ain't you got it?"

"I have not, and I don't know what has become of it. It was not in the
box this morning, and--"

"IT WASN'T IN THE BOX THIS MORNING!" he roared. "See here, what kind of
a damn fool do you take me for?" He wheeled suddenly, caught her by the
wrist, dragged her clear of the door, and shut it behind her.

"Now, Mrs. Stanton," he said, in cold, incisive tones, "let's you and I
have this out, and I want to tell you right here that I believe you're
lying, and I've been suspecting it for some time. Now, make a clean
breast of it. You've pawned it, haven't you?"

"I--pawn it? You think I--I won't allow you to speak to me in that way.
I--"

"Oh, cut that out, it won't wash here. Now, listen! I've got to get that
mantilla, see? And I'm going to get it if I go through every pawn-shop
in town with a fine-tooth comb. I orter to have had better sense than
to let you take it out of the shop. Now open up, and I'll help you
straighten out th