"I thought so a week ago," admitted Halliday, candidly. "Then you don't think so now."
"No. Not since Marcus Penn died." Mrs. Jarsell drew a long breath and wriggled uneasily. "Who is Marcus Penn?"
"Well, he was the secretary of Sir Charles Moon, and afterwards he was the secretary of Lord Curberry. Now he's a corpse."
"Oh," cried Mrs. Jarsell, suddenly, "I wish you wouldn't talk of these horrible things. Has this gang----"
"Murdered him?" finished the young man, "yes, I believe so, although a verdict of suicide was brought in. But poor Penn's death may be the means of saving me and Miss Moon."
"Indeed!" the woman's tone became harsh and imperative, but she did not ask any questions. "Yes. He left a confession." Even the side-glance Dan sent in Mrs. Jarsell's direction showed him that her olive cheeks had turned to a dead white. However, she said nothing, although she moistened her lips slowly; so he went on easily, as if he were telling an idle story. "This confession was concealed in Lord Curberry's house, but Penn sent a note of its whereabouts to Miss Moon, who told me. I got the confession and placed it in safe keeping."
"That was wise," said Mrs. Jarsell, with an effort. "And the safe keeping?"
"Oh, I shall only tell the whereabouts of the confession and the name of the person who holds it when there is no necessity for the confession to be used."
"I don't see quite what you mean, Mr. Halliday."
"Well, you see, Mrs. Jarsell, I have to protect myself and Miss Moon from the machinations of the society. The person who holds the confession will not open the sealed envelope in which it is placed unless something happens to Miss Moon or to myself. Therefore, so long as no member of the gang hurts us, the secrets of the gang are quite safe." To his attentive ear it seemed that Mrs. Jarsell drew a long breath of relief. With a command of herself which did her credit, she displayed no emotion, but observed playfully, "It is very clever of you and very wise to guard yourself in this way. Certainly the gang cannot hurt you in any way so long as there is danger of the confession being opened in the event of things happening to you or to Miss Moon. Suppose the confession is a very dreadful one, Mr. Halliday?"