“Please let me continue,” Mona interposed, smiling faintly, yet betraying considerable feeling.  “I think I know what you wished to remark—­that she has had the benefit of all this money which she has obtained under false pretenses, and that she ought to suffer the extreme penalty of the law for her misdeeds.  She cannot fail to suffer all, and more than any one could desire, in the failure of her schemes, in the discovery of her wickedness, and in the loss of the fortune of which she felt so secure.  But even if she were indifferent to all this I should still beg you to consider the bitter humiliation which a public trial would entail upon me, and the reproach upon my father’s hitherto unsullied name.  If—­if I will cause Mr. Cutler and Mrs. Vanderheck to be reimbursed for the loss which they sustained through Mrs. Montague’s dishonesty, cannot you arrange some way by which a committal and a trial can be avoided?”

“I am afraid it would be defeating all law and justice,” Mr. Corbin began again, and just at that moment Ray returned to the room, looking very grave and thoughtful.

Mona’s face lighted as she saw him.

“Ray, come here, please, and plead for me,” she said, turning her earnest face toward him; and he saw at once that her heart was very much set upon her object, whatever it might be.

CHAPTER XXI.

MRS. MONTAGUE TELLS HER STORY.

“What is it, Mona?” Ray inquired, as he went to her side.  “You may be very sure that I will second your wishes if they are wise and do not interfere in any way with your interests.”

Mona briefly repeated what she had already proposed to the lawyers, and Ray immediately responded that it was also his wish and his father’s that as far as they were concerned all public proceedings against Mrs. Montague should be suspended.

“Come with me to another room where we can converse more freely,” he added, “for I have a proposition to make to you in my father’s name.  Mr. Rider,” raising his voice and addressing the detective, “will you allow Mrs. Montague to remain alone with Miss Dinsmore for a little while, as I wish to confer with you upon a matter of importance?”

The detective took a swift survey of the room before answering.  It was evident that he had no intention of allowing his captive to escape him now after all his previous efforts to secure her.

“Yes,” he replied, “I will go with you into the hall, if that will do.”

He knew that in the hall he should be able to keep his eyes upon both doors of the drawing-room, and no one could pass in and out without his knowing it, while there was no other way of egress.

The four gentlemen accordingly withdrew, thus leaving Mona and Mrs. Montague by themselves.

Mona seated herself by a window, and as far as possible from the woman, for she shrank with the greatest aversion from her, while she felt that her own presence must be oppressive and full of reproach to her.