"A deed's to be done. There is sin in the doing.
Oh, see how the mother her child is pursuing!
She him unknowing. Oh, mother, blind mother,
Thy son thou hast slain--not the son of another!
The deed thou hast done a life-time of rueing;
Thy son thou hast , as Cain did his brother!"
 
 
It was on Friday morning that Mrs. Belk had her fatal interview with Maxwell--fatal indeed to her son, to benefit whom that same interview had been sought for. Had she not been of such a secretive she would have told Samson of the finding of the jewel and how she intended to obtain money thereon as a clue to the assassin of Sir Rupert, in which case he would doubtless have prevented her doing so.
 
Anxious, however, to surprise Samson with a piece of good news, she had refrained from taking him into her confidence, and thus inadvertently placed him in a situation of extreme . Ignorant of this, however, she left Maxwell with the fifty pounds in her purse and joy in her heart, thinking she could now give her son a chance of making money by his physical strength. to see for herself what rivals he would have in the event of his entering the as "a strong man," on Friday night she went to Totahoop's Music Hall, where "The New Milo" was exhibiting his world of strength. After witnessing his performance, she was satisfied that her son had nothing to fear in the way of comparison, and on Saturday night went to a rival variety entertainment to see "The Modern Hercules." This gentleman, in Mrs. Belk's opinion proved equally disappointing; so the next day, which was Sunday, she departed for Deswarth with the full conviction that her son, aided by the fifty pounds obtained from Maxwell, would only have to appear before a London audience to easily distance both the Milo and the Hercules.
 
She went down by the morning train, but on arriving at her cottage found that Samson had gone to a town some distance away on an errand for Sir Thomas, his new master, and would not be back again until the afternoon. Under these circumstances she was forced to her and wait some hours before she could reveal the good news to her son.
 
Meanwhile, as fate was thus delaying the warning to Samson which such a revelation would have brought about, Archie Maxwell, accompanied by Mrs. Belswin and her Italian friend, had arrived at The Chequers, from whence they intended to go to Belk's cottage and demand an explanation from him as to the discovery of the scarf-pin on the terrace at Thornstream. Confronted with the landlord of The Chequers, Signor Ferrari had no difficulty in proving to Maxwell that he was in the house at ten o'clock on that fatal night, and as the doctor at the inquest had asserted that Sir Rupert had been shot shortly before eleven, Maxwell was forced to believe by this circumstantial evidence that Ferrari was innocent of the crime. Mrs. Belswin had also recalled to the young man's mind her evidence at the inquest, so he could not possibly suspect her in any way, therefore to all appearances Belk was the only person to whom suspicion in any strong degree. This being the case, after the interview with the landlord of The Chequers, Mr. Maxwell and his two friends set off to Belk's cottage, where Mrs. Belk was now impatiently awaiting the arrival of her son.
 
It seemed to Mrs. Belswin, as she was in the highest degree, that Fortune was dead against her in every way. Firstly, she had been beaten on every point by Silas Oates; , it was only by the merest chance that she had been able to her identity from Maxwell, in the matter of his against Ferrari, and now she was afraid of Samson Belk. Afraid, because the finding of the scarf-pin proved that he was on the terrace on that night, in which case he might have overheard her interview with Sir Rupert. If this was the case, in order to save himself he would certainly tell Archie all he knew, and she would be lost. There was no time to see and warn him as she had done Ferrari, so she walked on to the cottage with a set smile on her face and a deadly fear in her heart.
 
On their arrival, Mrs. Belk opened the door, and was very much surprised at such an invasion. However, she said nothing, but, in her , waited for an explanation of their visit.
 
"Is your son at home, Mrs. Belk," asked Maxwell, .
 
"No, sir," replied Mrs. Belk, dropping a curtsey, "but I'm expecting him every minute."
 
"Oh, in that case we'll wait."
 
"Yes, sir, certainly!"
 
Mrs. Belk moved on one side, as she was in a state of considerable mystification as to the reason of Mr. Maxwell's unexpected arrival; and they all entered the cottage. The little woman gave them seats, and then stood waiting to hear what they had to say. Maxwell's business, however, was with Samson Belk, and not with his mother, so he preserved a masterly silence, in order to give her no opportunity of finding out his errand, and perhaps, by a look, putting her son on his guard.
 
"I hope nothing is wrong about the money, sir," said Mrs. Belk, after a long pause.
 
"No! that is all right."
 
"Have you found out anything, sir?"
 
"You mean about the scarf-pin?" said Maxwell, evasively.
 
"Yes, sir."
 
"Mr. Maxwell has found out the owner of it," interposed Mrs. Belswin, coldly.
 
"I am the owner," said Ferrari, .
 
"You?" cried Mrs. Belk, with a sudden flush on her face; "you, sir?"
 
"Even I, signora!"
 
Mrs. Belk felt quite taken back. She was quite sure that the owner of the scarf-pin had killed Sir Rupert, yet, here he was, calmly acknowledging that it belonged to him, which he certainly would not do if he were guilty. The little woman looked from Ferrari to Maxwell, from Maxwell to Mrs. Belswin; and saw in their eyes the same expression---a look of pity. A sudden thrill of fear shot through her heart, and she turned towards Maxwell with a cry of alarm.
 
"Sir! Sir!" she , , "what does this mean?--why do you come here?"
 
"We want to see your son, Mrs. Belk."
 
"My son, sir? Is anything wrong? Oh, tell me, sir, Samson has been doing nothing wrong?"
 
None of the three persons present answered her, so filled were their hearts with pity for her coming agony.
 
"Is it anything to do with the diamond, sir?"
 
"Yes."
 
"Oh!" cried Mrs. Belk, with an expression of relief on her face, "perhaps you think my son stole it?"
 
"Your son," said Mrs. Belswin, quickly. "Did he have that scarf-pin in his possession?"
 
Mrs. Belk faced round fiercely.
 
"No ma'am; he knows nothing about it."
 
"Ebbene," murmured the Italian; "we shall see."
 
"What do you say, sir?"
 
"I say," replied Ferrari, coolly, "that the scarf-pin was mine, and I gave it to--to--your son."
 
"To my son," Mrs. Belk, her pale face growing yet paler; "but I found the diamond on the terrace."
 
"Per Bacco! Who loses finds."
 
Mrs. Belk kept silent for a moment, overwhelmed by the thought of the position in which she had placed her son, for in a single instant she saw all; then, staggering against the wall, she gave a cry which was scarcely human in its agony.
 
Scarcely had it died away, when hurried footsteps were heard, and the door was dashed open to admit Samson Belk, with a look of on his face.
 
"Mother! what is the matter? Mrs. Belswin?"
 
"Yes!&............