Marie faced her with an impudent smile bold and taunting.
"Mademoiselle, you dare not discharge me," she replied, coolly.
"Dare not!" Jewel echoed.
"That was what I said," replied the French maid, calmly. "I repeat it. You dare not discharge me, for it would be dangerous to send away the trusty maid who shares your fatal secret."
She saw horror and consternation on the dark, beautiful face. It grew pale as marble, and the eyes dilated in horror.
"Ah, you understand me!" Marie said. "I confess it was naughty in me to play ghost, but then I thought you ought to be punished a little for that terrible deed. She was young and lovely, the girl you killed and flung into the cellar. You see I know all, Miss Fielding, for I watched, and I saw you dragging her down the steps."
"I deny it all!" Jewel gasped, feebly; but Marie laughed her to scorn.
"You deny it, with your victim lying down there under the water in the cellar!"
Jewel saw that denial would be useless.