"You must know all," said Lady Branwin, calmly, "because you won't see me again. I pass out of your life very, very soon."
"What would you do?" asked Colonel Ilse, sharply.
"I would tell you the whole truth."
"Perhaps I know it," put in Perry Toat, who was on her feet. "You were quarrelling with your sister over the stolen child."
"Ah! Miss Pearl heard that much and told you, did she?" sneered Lady Branwin, taking care to keep near the door. "What more?"
"Nothing more. She said that your voices ceased suddenly."
"Ah," said Lady Branwin, coolly and reflectively, "that must have been while I was strangling Flora."
"Oh!" There was a general cry of dismay and horror. Eddy staggered to his feet and pointed a shaking finger at the woman. "You--you murdered my dear wife?" he stammered.
"Yes," mocked Lady Branwin, sneeringly, "I murdered your dear wife, who for years had been blackmailing me. Colonel Ilse, you will understand that Sir Joseph was angry because I had no children; there was no prospect of my having any. Then Flora told me how she wished to be revenged on you, and offered to bring me your child as soon as it was born. I agreed."
"You wicked woman!" cried the Colonel, glaring.