“Matilda!” he exclaimed.  And from behind him, like a triplicate echo, sounded the others’ “Matilda!”

“Good—­good-morning, Mr. Jack,” quavered Matilda, locking the door again.

Then the four sighted Olivetta.

“What, you, Olivetta!” Jack and Judge Harvey cried in unison.

“Yes, it’s I, Jack,” she said with an hysterical laugh.  “I just thought I’d call in to express—­it’s no more than is proper, my being her cousin, you know,—­to express my sympathy to your mother.”

“Your sympathy to my mother?”

“Yes.  To—­to tell her how—­how sorry I am that she’s dead,” elucidated Olivetta.

A little hand gripped Jack’s arm.

“Jack!”

He turned his head and his eyes followed Mary’s pointing finger.

“Mother!” He walked amazedly up before Mrs. De Peyster’s palsied figure.  “Mother!”

In the same instant Judge Harvey was beside her.

“Caroline!” he breathed, like one seeing a ghost.

“Ye-yes,” she mumbled.

“Then you’re not dead?”

“N-no,” she mumbled.

The Judge and Jack and Mary gazed down at her in uttermost astoundment.  To them was added Mr. Pyecroft.  His bewilderment, for the moment, was the greatest of the group; for the likeness between the black-garbed, fled Angelica, and this real Mrs. De Peyster in lavender dressing-gown, was more remarkable than he had ever dreamed.

“Thank God!” quavered Judge Harvey.  And then, voicing the general amazement:  “But—­but—­I don’t understand!  What has happened?  How do you come here?”

Mrs. De Peyster, with a shivering glance at them all, and one of particular terror at her recent confederate, Mr. Pyecroft, made a last rally to save herself.

“My explanation—­that is, all I know about this affair—­is really very simple.  I—­you see—­I very unexpectedly returned home—­and—­and discovered this—­this situation.  That is all.”  She gathered a little more courage.  “I do not need to inform you that I have been away.”

“Of course, we know you’ve been away!” said Jack.  “But that Mrs. De Peyster at the pier—­who is she?”

“She’s nothing—­but a base—­impostor!” cried Olivetta indignantly, lifting her face for a moment from her woe-soaked handkerchief.  “Don’t you believe a word she says!”

“But we’re all ready for the ceremony!” exclaimed Jack.  “There are a dozen reporters downstairs, and no end of friends are coming from out of town to be present.  And that person, whoever she is, will be here—­”

“I tell you she’s an impostor!” cried Olivetta frantically.  “Don’t you let her in!”

“Caroline, I can’t tell you how—­” Judge Harvey’s voice, tremulous with relief at this unbelievably averted tragedy, broke off.  “But what are we going to do?” he cried.

“Yes, what are we going to do?” echoed Mary.

Concern over this new, swiftly approaching crisis for a moment took precedence of all other emotions.  Judge Harvey and Mary and Jack gazed at each other, bewildered, helpless.  Something had to be done, quick—­but what?