“My dear girl,” he replied with affected unconcern, “that’s my own business.  You really ought to have been in bed long ago.  It isn’t discreet, you know, to be down here with me at this hour!”

“I demand to know what you are doing here!” she cried firmly.

“And, my dear little girl, I refuse to tell you,” was his decisive answer.

“Very well, then I shall alarm the house and explain to my father what I have discovered.”

CHAPTER XIX

SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT

Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

“My dear little girl!” exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, “why create such a beastly draught?  Nothing will happen, for I’ve already seen to those wires.”

“You’re a thief!” she cried, drawing herself up angrily.  “I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once.”

“You are at perfect liberty to act exactly as you choose,” was Flockart’s answer, as he bowed before her with irritating mock politeness.  “But before you go, pray allow me to finish these most interesting documents, some of which, I believe, are in your very neat handwriting.”

“My father’s business is his own alone, and you have no right whatever to pry into it.  I thought you were posing as his friend!” she cried in bitter protest, as she stood with both her hands clenched.

“I am his friend,” he declared.  “Some day, Gabrielle, you will know the truth of how near he is to disaster, and how I am risking much in an endeavour to save him.”

“I don’t believe you!” she exclaimed in undisguised disgust.  “In your heart there is not one single spark of sympathy with him in his affliction or with me in my ghastly position!”

“Your position is only your own seeking, my dear child,” was his cold response.  “I gave you full warning long ago.  You can’t deny that.”

“You conspired with Lady Heyburn against me!” she cried.  “I have discovered more about it than you think; and I now openly defy you, Mr. Flockart.  Please understand that.”

“Good!” he replied, still unruffled.  “I quite understand.  You will pardon my resuming, won’t you?” And walking back to the open safe, he drew forth a small bundle of papers from a drawer.  Then he threw himself into a leather arm-chair, and proceeded to untie the tape and examine the documents one by one, as though in eager search of something.

“Though Lady Heyburn may be your friend, I am quite sure even she would never for a moment countenance such a dastardly action as this!” cried the girl, crimsoning in anger.  “You come here, accept my father’s hospitality, and make pretence of being his friend and adviser; yet you are conspiring against him, as you have done against myself!”