"I know him?" repeated Miriam, with dull surprise. "You mean I have met

him. What is his name? Heyton, of course."

"That is his name, his title," said Celia; "but he has borne several

names, has had a strange history. You knew him by the name of Derrick

Dene."

Miriam did not start; but the pallor of her face increased, and her

tear-swollen eyes fixed themselves with a kind of wan wonder and shame

on Celia.

"Derrick Dene!" she echoed, faintly.

"Yes," murmured Celia; and, as briefly and gently as she could, she told

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Miriam of Derrick's recent experiences. Miriam's hands went up to her

face; but they dropped into her lap again and she looked before her and

said, in a stricken voice, "I see you know everything. Yes, it was Heyton, my husband, who forged

the cheque; I know it now: he is capable of--anything." She shuddered.

"It was to save me from the shame and unhappiness of being a felon's

wife that Derrick sacrificed himself. Yes; it was just what he would

do." She glanced at Celia. "You know, of course, that I--I once cared

for him; that we were to be married; I jilted him for a title, for

money----"

"Don't say any more," pleaded Celia; but Miriam went on ruthlessly.

"I was a weak fool; I might have known that no good would come of such

treachery--oh, yes, I knew in my heart; I knew that Derrick was worth a

hundred of him. I sinned with my eyes open; no, I shut them; I was

blinded by the thought, the prospect of being--what I am," she added

bitterly; then, suddenly, she fixed her eyes on Celia's downcast face.

"Derrick told you this? Then he knows you very well; you are a close

friend of his; you are----?"

"Yes," murmured Celia. "I am going to be his wife--very soon. We met in

'The Jail.'" She did not, she could not tell how that meeting had been

brought about; she wanted to spare Miriam all she could; but,

notwithstanding her resolution, the next words slipped out

unconsciously. "He was accused of the robbery of the jewels----" She bit

her lip; but it was too late for remorse.

Miriam dropped back in the chair, her eyes closed and her lips became

livid.

"He did not do it!" she gasped.

"No, no!" said Celia, quickly; "he has been proved innocent."

There was silence for a moment; while Miriam evidently made an effort to

control her agitation.




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