“Leaving my old friend to your care?”

“Yes, that will be best.”

“Mr. Ashcroft, can I have a few minutes’ conversation with you?” asked Carl.

“Certainly.”

They left the room together, followed by an uneasy and suspicious glance from Mrs. Crawford.

Carl hurriedly communicated to his father’s friend what he had learned about his stepmother.

“Mr. Cook, Peter’s father, is just outside,” he said.  “Shall I call him in?”

“I think we had better do so, but arrange that the interview shall take place without your father’s knowledge.  He must not be excited.  Call him in, and then summon your stepmother.”

“Mrs. Crawford,” said Carl, re-entering his father’s room, “Mr. Ashcroft would like to have a few words with you.  Can you come out?”

She followed Carl uneasily.

“What is it you want with me, sir?” she asked, frigidly.

“Let me introduce an old acquaintance of yours.”

Mr. Cook, whom Mrs. Crawford had not at first observed, came forward.  She drew back in dismay.

“It is some time since we met, Lucy,” said Cook, quietly.

“Do you come here to make trouble?” she muttered, hoarsely.

“I come to ask for the property you took during my absence in California,” he said.  “I don’t care to have you return to me——­”

“I obtained a divorce.”

“Precisely; I don’t care to annul it.  I am thankful that you are no longer my wife.”

“I—­I will see what I can do for you.  Don’t go near my present husband.  He is in poor health, and cannot bear a shock.”

“Mrs. Crawford,” said Ashcroft, gravely, “if you have any idea of remaining here, in this house, give it up.  I shall see that your husband’s eyes are opened to your real character.”

“Sir, you heard this man say that he has no claim upon me.”

“That may be, but I cannot permit my friend to harbor a woman whose record is as bad as yours.”

“What do you mean?” she demanded, defiantly.

“I mean that you have served a term in prison for larceny.”

“It is false,” she said, with trembling lips.

“It is true.  I visited the prison during your term of confinement, and saw you there.”

“I, too, can certify to it,” said Cook.  “I learned it two years after my marriage.  You will understand why I am glad of the divorce.”

Mrs. Crawford was silent for a moment.  She realized that the battle was lost.

“Well,” she said, after a pause, “I am defeated.  I thought my secret was safe, but I was mistaken.  What do you propose to do with me?”

“I will tell you this evening,” said Ashcroft.  “One thing I can say now—­you must not expect to remain in this house.”

“I no longer care to do so.”