“He took me to New York; and there we lived very happily until about two years ago, when my father died.  He was a lawyer by profession, but at that time held a salaried position in a railroad company, and when he died, of course our income ceased.  The money that was left did not last very long, and then I had to decide what I was to do.  It would have been natural for me to go to my only relatives, Aunt Keswick and Junius.  But my father had been so opposed to my aunt having anything to do with me that I could not bear to go to her.  He had really been so much afraid that she would try to win me away from him, or in some way gain possession of me, that he would not even let her know our address, and never answered the few letters from her which reached him, and which he told me were nothing but demands that her sister’s child should be given back to her.  Junius had written to me, how many times I do not know, but two letters had come to me that were very good and affectionate, quite different from my aunt’s, but even these my father would not let me answer; it would be all the same thing, he said, as if I opened communication with my Aunt Keswick.  Therefore, out of respect to my father, and also in accordance with my own wishes, I gave up all idea of coming down here, and went to work to support myself.  I tried several things, and, at last, through a friend of my father, who was a regular customer of Mr Candy, I got the position of cashier in the Information Shop.  It was an awfully queer place, but the work was very easy, and I soon got used to it.  Then you came making inquiries for an address.  At first I did not know that the person you wanted was Junius Keswick and my cousin, but after I began to look into the matter I found that it must be he who you were after.  Then I became very much troubled, for I liked Junius, who was the only one of my blood whom I had any reason to care for; and when one sees a person setting a detective—­for it is all the same thing—­upon the track of another person, one is very apt to think that some harm is intended to the person that is being looked up.  I did not know what business Junius was in, nor what his condition was, but even if he had been doing wrong, I did not wish you to find him until I had first seen him, and then, if I found you could do him any harm, I would warn him to keep out of your way.”

“Do you think that was fair treatment of me?” asked Croft.

“You were nothing to me, and Junius was a great deal,” she answered.  “And yet I think I was fair enough.  The only money you paid was what Mr Candy charged; and when I spoke of receiving money for my services when the affair was finished I only did it that it might all be more business like, and that you should not drop me and set somebody else looking after Junius.  That was the great thing I was afraid of, so I did all I could to make you satisfied with me.”

“I don’t see how your conscience could allow you to do all this,” said Croft.