"You infamous creature!" she cried furiously. "Out of my house, or I'll have you thrown out by my servants."
"My house, my servants, my estates!" sneered Mrs Jeal, keeping an eye on her victim. "Are you sure you can talk like that, my lady?"
"I repeat I don't understand you," stammered Mrs Gabriel, sitting down. She was beginning to be afraid. Mrs Jeal would not dare to speak so unless she possessed some information dangerous to the lady of the castle.
"I shall leave the parish to-morrow," went on Mrs Jeal, coolly. "I have no wish to remain. Miss Tempest will take charge of Pearl, and—"
"What have I to do with all this?" said Mrs Gabriel, sitting up.
"This much: I want your ladyship to give me a thousand pounds."
"Ah! I thought so. Your mission here is one of blackmail?"
Mrs Jeal shrugged her plump shoulders. "Some people would call it that," she said, dropping the courtesy title; "and as you have paid blackmail to Pratt all these years, I don't see why you should not give me a thousand pounds to get rid of me."
"Pratt!" Mrs Gabriel could hardly speak. "What do you know?—"
"I know that Pratt was married to you in Switzerland when you were Miss Haverleigh, and that you afterwards married Mr Gabriel. The property was left by Mr Gabriel to—'my wife.' Those were the words used in the will. And you, Miss Haverleigh, were never Mr Gabriel's wife."