It said a great deal for Audrey's presence of mind that she lay quietly where she was, and did not at once leap from her bed to denounce Eddy¹ Vail. But the girl, although she appeared delicate, and was inexperienced, had a commonsense² way of looking at things, which helped her greatly in this emergency. She rapidly reviewed the situation, and saw that it would be wiser, for the present, to hold her tongue. When she laid the matter before Ralph, it would be time enough to consider what was the best course to pursue. It was necessary to obtain further proofs of Vail's guilt³, as for the moment it rested merely on the statement of Badoura. And if Badoura changed her mind and became reconciled to Eddy, she might deny that she had made any remark about the clock. Finally, seeing that she was indebted to her aunt for a night's lodging⁴, if for nothing else, Audrey did not wish to make trouble in the Pink Shop. Already the murder had given the place a bad name, and if there was any more scandal Madame Coralie's business would be ruined entirely⁵.  
But Audrey could rest no more, and when she heard Madame Coralie go into the still-room to talk with her scampish husband she quietly rose and closed the bedroom door. Then she dressed rapidly, and soon came out, looking much her usual self, although she was decidedly pale. Her aunt was still talking to Eddy, and had just handed him a letter. The scampish husband looked more pretty and dandified than ever, and threw a glance of leering admiration⁶ at the charming newcomer. When Audrey remembered that Badoura accused him of strangling her mother, she could scarcely address him politely. Yet she was forced to do so for the sake of appearance, as Madame Coralie introduced her to him.
 
"Miss Branwin, this is my husband, Mr. Edmund Vail."
 
"I hope you are well, Miss Branwin," said Mr. Vail, politely, and bowed in a most deferential⁷ manner. He even held out his hand, but Audrey declined to see it--she could not bring herself to greet him in this way.
 
"I am quite well, Mr. Vail," she said coldly, "thanks to a good night's rest."
 
"You are stopping here, Miss Branwin?"
 
"Mind your own business, Eddy!" snapped Madame Coralie, shortly. "You have nothing to do with my customers. Miss Branwin is stopping here for treatment, so say no more about it. Take that letter to Sir Joseph Branwin at once."
 
Audrey started, and looked at her aunt. "To my father?"
 
"Yes," said Madame Coralie, arranging her yashmak. "I have written to Sir Joseph asking him to send your boxes here, as your treatment will take some time."
 
"But will my father send my boxes?" asked Audrey, nervously⁸.
 
Madame Coralie gave her a warning glance, as Eddy's cherubic face was alive with curiosity. "Of course he will, Miss Branwin," said the proprietress of the Pink Shop, easily. "He knows that ladies cannot do without at least a dozen frocks. Never fear," she nodded encouragingly, "I shall send you back to Camden Hill as plump as a partridge."
 
"If I may be permitted a remark," said Eddy, impudently¹⁰, "Miss Branwin does not require figure treatment. She is--perfection," and he grinned.
 
"Eddy, you can go," said Madame Coralie, quietly, and pointed¹¹ imperatively¹² to the door. "Lose no time."
 
"Au revoir, Miss Branwin," said the rogue¹³, and walked out of the still-room as delicately as Agag before his execution.
 
"What a horrid¹⁴ man!" said Audrey, involuntarily, then coloured when aware of her remark. "I beg your pardon, Aunt Flora¹⁵, I forgot he is your husband."
 
"I never can forget it," said Madame Coralie, calmly; "and you are quite right, my dear. Eddy is a horrid young man, conceited¹⁶ and impudent⁹, whose one idea in life is to hunt women and spend money. That's two ideas, though, isn't it, my dear?" ended Madame Coralie, with a grim look in her eyes. "Oh! what a fool I was to marry him."
 
"Perhaps he will improve, Aunt Flora, and I am sure he ought to be grateful to you for keeping him the way you do."
 
"My dear child, gratitude¹⁷ and Eddy Vail are far apart. He's a rogue and I'm a fool, so we are well matched. Don't let us talk any more about him. I have sent a letter to your father saying you are staying with me, and asking him to send on your boxes."
 
"Did you mention if you knew why I came to you, aunt?"
 
"Yes, I did, and I signed myself Flora Arkwright."
 
"Why not Flora Vail?"
 
"Because Joseph does not know me by that name; but he knows who Flora Arkwright is," said Madame Coralie, still grimly. "And he will certainly send on your boxes, my dear, as he has been waiting for a chance to get rid of you."
 
Audrey looked pained. "Why should he desire to get rid of me? I am sure I have always tried to be a daughter to him."
 
"He doesn't want a daughter, but another wife. You were an obstacle in the way of his marrying Rosy¹⁸ Pearl, and, as he could not induce you to marry Lord Anvers, he seized the opportunity of your making that rash visit to Mr. Shawe to turn you out of house and home. But he shall make you an allowance, Audrey"--Madame Coralie's eyes flashed--"I'll see to that."
 
"He will not unless he is forced to," rejoined the girl, mournfully.
 
"Then he shall be forced, my dear. I can manage him."
 
"In what way, Aunt Flora?"
 
"Never mind. I know things about Joseph Branwin which he would not like the world to become aware of."
 
It was on the tip of Audrey's tongue to ask if the things in question had to do with Sir Joseph's presence in the house on the night of the murder; but her aunt gave her no time to speak.
 
"There's a gentleman waiting in the lane to see you," she said abruptly¹⁹.
 
Audrey ran to the window. "Ralph!" she said quickly and joyfully²⁰.
 
"Yes. He has come in spite of my prohibition²¹, silly fellow that he is. I don't want your stay here to be talked about. However, as he will not go away unless he sees you, I think, my dear, you had better go to him and ask if he will take you out to breakfast. There's a very good restaurant in the High Street. I can't give you the meals to which you have been accustomed, my dear girl."
 
Audrey took her hand, and Madame Coralie quivered at the gentle touch. "You have taken me in when I had no home," said the girl, tenderly, "and I shall never forget it, Aunt Flora. I wish you would remove that horrid yashmak and let me kiss you."
 
Madame Coralie drew aside the dark veil, and allowed Audrey to press a kiss on her mouth. Then she dropped the yashmak again over the disfiguring birthmark, and turned away in silence to busy herself with some tiny boxes containing ointments²². "You had better go, dear," she said at length, in a low voice, "Mr. Shawe is waiting."
 
Audrey wondered why her aunt should be so moved by a simple caress²³; but guessing that she did not wish to converse²⁴ at the moment quietly left the room, and ran down the stairs. As she passed through the shop the quartette of assistants, who were busy in various ways, looked up with bright smiles. One and all, enlightened by Badoura, had seen the lover pacing the lane, and sympathised with Audrey's haste. The girl blushed and laughed as she left the shop, and ran across the narrow roadway holding out her hands.
 
"My dear--my darling!"............