[Illustration: "With A Savage Frown He Motioned Me Out.">[
"And you have found out nothing more?" said Hilda, in deep disappointment.
"Nothing," said Gualtier, dejectedly; "but are you not hasty in despising what I have found out? Is not this something?"
"I do not know that you have discovered anything but what I knew before," said Hilda, coldly. "You have made some conjectures--that is all."
"Conjectures!--no, conclusions from additional facts," said Gualtier, eagerly. "What we suspected is now, at least, more certain. The very brutality of that beast, Obed Chute, proves this. Let me tell you the conclusions that I draw from this:
"First, General Pomeroy, under an assumed name, that of Redfield Lyttoun, gained Lady Chetwynde's love, and ran away with her to America.
"Secondly, he forged a hundred thousand dollars, which forgery he hushed up through this Obed Chute, paying him, no doubt, a large sum for hush-money.
"Thirdly, he deserted Lady Chetwynde when he was tired of her, and left her in the hands of Obed Chute. She was ill, and finally, on her recovery, joined the Sisters of Charity.
"Fourthly, after eight years she ran away--perhaps to fall into evil courses and die in infamy.
"And lastly, all this must be true, or else Obed Chute would not have been so close, and would not have fired up so at the very suggestion of an explanation. If it were not true, why should he not explain? But if it be true, then there is every reason why he should not explain."