"I do not say that I am connected with the Tána Society, madam."
"You gave me the trinket."
"Which was given to me by a member of the society for use in emergencies, madam. I gave it to you to aid you out of friendship. That is all. He waved his large white hand. There is no more to be said."
"Pardon me," said Gerald quickly, "there is this much to be said. How did you come to know of Bellaria's hiding-place, if Mrs. Crosbie----"
"Madam here told me nothing," interrupted the Italian, silencing the little widow with a gesture. "Bellaria Dondi was a traitress, who deserved to be killed. Nevertheless, she hid herself so successfully that the Tána Society never knew where she was until the papers said that she had been found dead in Devonshire."
"Did not an emissary of the Tána Society kill her?" asked Gerald, confounded.
"No," said Venosta gravely. "Heaven punished Bellaria, not the Tána. She is dead--stabbed--but I do not know who struck the blow."
He looked at Mrs. Crosbie, and at Gerald coldly, bowed slightly, and left the room.