"Did she ever tell you about her marriage?"
"I was too young when she died."
"Did you ever see any record of her marriage?"
"No."
"You know nothing definite about it, then?"
"No."
"Well, then, allow me to inform you that you are as much astray here as you were in that other thing. This Hilda Krieff was the wife of Pemberton Pomeroy--married after his elopement business. He took her name. You were their daughter. I saw you once or twice when visiting him. You were then a baby. Neville Pomeroy took charge of your mother and you after your father's death. These are the facts of the case."
"What is all this?" cried Zillah, eagerly, as she heard these names. "Do _you_ know about papa?"
"This lady came here with some questions about a cipher writing which she had misunderstood, and I explained it all. She thought the General was guilty, but I explained that he was the best fellow that ever lived. It's too long to tell now. I'll explain it all to you to-morrow."
"Oh, thank God!" murmured Zillah.