"He will torture me to madness," she thought, with the agony of despair.
How was she to raise the money to appease the man who was her relentless foe?
Then she thought of her diamonds. Among the gifts which she had received from Eugene was a diamond necklace. This he had inherited from his uncle.
"The setting is very old," he had said, "because the necklace has been worn by the ladies of our family for generations. The stones, however, are remarkably white and brilliant. They are among the finest in this country, and worth a fortune in themselves."
She had often looked at them as they lay in their rich purple-velvet case.
"I—I could raise the money on them," she thought, with a little sob.
But she did not know it was to end in a tragedy.
[CHAPTER LI.]
Ida no sooner found herself alone than she took from her wardrobe a black dress, a long cloak, a bonnet and black veil. She quickly donned them, then stole into the corridor, locking the door after her, and putting the key in her pocket.