Almost as soon as the Italian went out, Mrs. Berch entered. Since Gerald had seen her last she had greatly , and looked more worn and thin than ever in her dark gown. Glancing from the young man to her daughter, she went to the latter and took her hand.  
"What is the matter, Madge?" she asked, in her stern, cold voice, "why has Signor Venosta left, and why are you shivering? Gerald," she turned to Haskins, "what have you been saying to my daughter?"
 
"Nothing," he answered calmly, "but Signor Venosta has been saying a great deal to both of us."
 
"It is about that coral hand, mother," cried Mrs. Crosbie , and clinging to Mrs. Berch. "Signor Venosta says that it is the symbol of a society which murders, and for that reason the moneylender was afraid. I wish I had refused Venosta's assistance," she ended.
 
"Why did you talk of these horrors?" asked Mrs. Berch reproachfully, "you know, Gerald, that Madge cannot bear such things."
 
"I am trying to learn who killed Bellaria, Mrs. Berch, and it struck me--since she was afraid of the coral hand--that you told Madge what I told you, and that this being repeated to Venosta, he might have stabbed the woman by order of the Tána Society."
 
"I don't know anything about the Tána Society."
 
"Neither do I; neither do I," muttered Mrs. Crosbie.
 
"And there is no reason why Signor Venosta, who is our friend, should kill Major Rebb's servant," went on Mrs. Berch . "Everyone knows that she was stabbed by that crazy girl."
 
"I don't agree with you," replied Gerald coldly, and prepared to leave. "However, it is useless arguing, I can only apologize to Mrs. Crosbie for having brought up so disagreeable a subject. Good-day."
 
"No," said the widow, rising and recovering her color and nerve, "don't go yet, Gerald. I know that you did not mean any harm, and after all, as Signor Venosta has nothing to do with the death, it matters very little. Had I known when I saw the moneylender what I know now I should never have taken that coral hand. But I have given it back to Signor Venosta, and he will not mention the subject again. Sit down and have another cup of tea."
 
"Do," urged Mrs. Berch, the light coming into her cold eyes. "I think you owe it to Madge to remove the impression of this horror. The whole thing is too fantastical, with its symbols and secret societies and murders in lonely houses. We live in the twentieth century, and these things belong to fiction."
 
"The last does not," replied Haskins dryly: "Bellaria was certainly murdered at the Pixy's House."
 
"And by that crazy girl," insisted Mrs. Berch. "I hope she will be caught and shut up in an . It is not safe to let such a creature go at large."
 
Haskins defended Mavis no longer, as he was afraid that the two women, both keen-eyed and clever, might guess his secret knowledge of the girl's whereabouts. "Let us change the subject," he said, taking a fresh cup of tea from Mrs. Crosbie's hand. "I hope you enjoyed yourselves at Bognor?"
 
"Oh, very much indeed," said the widow brightly, "and we were quite sorry to return to London. But we are going abroad soon, to Switzerland."
 
Gerald . Switzerland was a wide place: yet if Mrs. Berch and her daughter went there, it was not impossible but what they might come across the path of Mr. and Mrs. Macandrew. In that event Major Rebb would certainly learn that Charity was married, and therefore guess that Mavis was with Mrs. Pelham Odin. However, he showed no signs of his fears, but resolved to write to Tod. "When are you going, Mrs. Crosbie?"
 
"I can't say exactly," she answered carelessly, "it all depends on Major Rebb. He is coming with mother and myself, but has some business to arrange before he can leave London. What have you been doing with yourself lately, Gerald? We, as you know, have been at Bognor."
 
"Writing as usual." And Haskins into an account of his new book, for the sake of talking on a safe subject. Yet even as he , his brain was wondering why the widow lied about Bognor. According to Tod's clerk the two ladies had not been near that watering-place: but Mrs. Crosbie spoke as having just returned from that very town. Probably, since both were hard up--Mrs. Crosbie in talking of the moneylender had confessed as much--they had been ruralizing in some quiet and cheap part of the country.
 
For the next twenty minutes the conversation was of a light and somewhat order, and in so congenial an atmosphere the widow expanded like a flower. Even Mrs. Berch grew more human, and less like a stone image. It was quite like old days, when Gerald's mother had sat knitting and listening with a smile on her well-remembered face. Mrs. Crosbie evidently recalled the past, for when Gerald finally took his departure she accompanied him to the door.
 
"What a pleasant quarter of an hour we have had," she said, pressing his hand. "We always get on well together, Gerald, and mother is so fond of you. I wish you had not quarreled with Michael--with Major Rebb, that is--for when I am married I want you still to be my friend."
 
"I am only too willing to continue so: but Rebb doesn't like me."
 
"How can you expect him to," said Mrs. Crosbie , "when you accuse him of shutting up that girl unjustly? I do hope you have got over your infatuation for her. It would never do for you to marry a madwoman."
 
"No," said Gerald, shirking a useless argument, "it would never do. Good-day, Madge. I shall see you again soon." And he went down the stairs with backward glances to see Mrs. Crosbie shaking a playful finger at him for calling her as usual by her name.
 
When in the street Gerald suddenly remembered that it would have been as well to get Signor Venosta's address from the widow, as he wanted to gain further information concerning the Tána Society. But on second thoughts he saw little use in again questioning Venosta. The Italian had plainly denied the murder, and would tell him nothing more about the society, which was a secret one. Haskins quite believed what Venosta said with regard to the crime. If Bellaria, judged a traitress by the Tána, had been stabbed, it was improbable that Venosta--as the mouthpiece of the cut-throat organization--would deny that such justice had been executed. Such societies were rather proud than otherwise of their , and did not mind the truth being known, since on this score terrified other members who might wish to break their oaths. The Tána Society therefore was guiltless of Bellaria's death, and the assassin would have to be sought for in another quarter. "But where can I look?" Gerald asked himself, and it was not until he reached Frederick Street that he what to do. The decision he came to, was to journey at once to Denleigh and interview the negro. Probably Geary knew the truth and might be or terrified into telling what he knew. To depend upon this semi-civilized creature was grasping at a straw, but to whom else could he go for information? Rebb, fighting with his back to the wall, would not tell, but Geary, knowing his master's secrets, might be persuaded, or kicked, or bought over, into speech.
 
When Gerald arrived in his rooms he was met with a surprise in the shape of Tod Macandrew, looking sunburnt, healthy, and marvelously happy. "Good heavens, what are you doing here?" asked Haskins, amazed.
 
"Looking for you," retorted Tod, and shook hands. "Charity is so anxious to see Mavis cleared, and you married to her, that she made me come back."
 
"And where is Mrs. Macandrew?"
 
"At Amsterdam."
 
"What is she doing there?"
 
"Waiting for me. She would not stop in Switzerland, as it was too far away, so she came to Amsterdam. I can run over and see her there whenever I like, until this infernal business of the murder is cleared up and I can bring her back to England."
 
"I am glad she is in Holland," remarked Gerald, and told Tod how Mrs. Crosbie and her mother intended to go to Switzerland, and of his lest they might meet Charity.
 
Tod nodded. "It is just as well," he answered. "However, Charity is all right and , so I am at your disposal. Mavis and Mrs. Pelham Odin are at Southend?"
 
"Yes, where Rebb is not likely to look for them. As for myself I am going to Devonshire to-morrow to see Geary and Arnold."
 
"Arnold? Yes, I should like to interview him, and see if he has picked up any further information. As to Geary?--do you suspect him?"
 
"Yes and no. According to Rebb, Geary gave the knife to Bellaria, and certainly I shot Geary in the right arm, so on the night of the murder he was in no condition to kill the woman. Geary, I believe, is guiltless; but he knows Rebb's secrets, and I wish to force him into telling them."
 
"Hum," said Tod, nursing his chin. "Do you believe that Rebb----"
 
"I don't know what to believe of Rebb," interrupted Gerald quickly. "As I told you, Mr. Ar............