"Then you are——?" he cried.
"I'm Tod Chase. My mother married Jimmy Marsh. I'm going back home to take part in a family jollification. You know his brother just died, and Jimmy has come in for a windfall."
Paula, who was busy packing her things, had not heard, but Mr. Ricaby quickly gave the young man a significant nudge.
"Hush!" he said. "You're speaking of her father!"
Tod gave a gasp.
"Her father!" he exclaimed.
"Yes—her father," said the lawyer quietly. "John Marsh married her mother—a Frenchwoman—twenty-two years ago. He kept the marriage secret."
Tod gave vent to a low but expressive whistle.
"Then his money——?" he gasped.
"Goes to his daughter, of course," answered the lawyer, with studied calmness.