“Stop, stop!  For God’s sake don’t say any more!” the unhappy woman pleaded.  “It is all too true, but I can hardly bear it.  I know she would scorn me for what I did.  But it would be a comfort if I could look upon her, see her face, and know that she is my child.  If I could but feast my eyes upon her even for a few minutes, it would mean everything to me.”

“No, madame, you are mistaken.  If you saw her once it would make you more dissatisfied than ever.  It would only add to your agony of soul, of which you speak.”

“So you won’t tell me, Gabriel?”

“No, I must not.”

“Then why have you come here to-day to torment me?  Why have you mentioned my child to me?  I believe you know where she is, and yet you will not tell me.  What is the meaning of all this?”

“Ah, now you are coming to the point,” and Grimsby smilingly rubbed his hands together in satisfaction.  “I have a definite purpose in coming to see you to-day.  I felt that I could not delay any longer.  It is a mere matter of business, nothing more.”

“Has it anything to do with the mine, Gabriel?”

“Oh, not at all.  It is far more important to you than that.  It has to do with something that happened twenty years ago.  There, now, madame, keep calm.  Don’t get excited.  I see you understand to what I refer, and that is good.  Now, how would you like for that to be known?”

“Heavens, man!  Are you in earnest?  Surely you must be joking.”

“Not at all.  I was never more in earnest in my life.  I merely asked if you would like the above-mentioned transaction made public.  That is all I wish to know.”

“No, no; it must not be mentioned.  For almost twenty years it has been kept a secret, and why should the public know of it now?  It would break my heart.  I could never face anyone again.  And John, who is so dear to me, what would he think?  How could I explain?  It must not be!  You will not tell, will you?”

Grimsby lighted another cigarette, crossed his legs, and smoked contentedly.  He was quite satisfied, so could afford to take his time.  This woman’s trouble was nothing to him, and no accusing conscience worried him in the least degree.  He was past all that.

“I shall not tell, madame,” he at length replied, “that is, providing you make it worth while.”

“In what way, Gabriel?  What can I do to obtain your silence?”

“There is only one thing that will perform the charm.  It has seldom failed.  I believe it is still powerful to silence tongues.  It will keep mine still, at any rate.  Is it hard to guess what that is?  You should know of all women, for it proved effective twenty years ago.”

Mrs. Hampton started, and looked keenly into the face of the man before her.

“Do you mean money?” she asked.  “Is that what will silence your tongue?”

“Ah, I am glad that you have guessed it, madame.  It will save unnecessary talk.  Yes, it is money, for it is money I need more than anything else.”