The man shuddered as he realized what a fiend he had cherished as his daughter. He realized that it was the old fable of warming a viper in the bosom that stings and wounds the succoring hand.
Roma could never come under his roof again. Her vile attempt on his life and Doctor Jay's precluded such a possibility.
But he groaned aloud as he thought of having to break all the truth to his frail, delicate wife—unless he should be able to first find Liane and get the proofs of her real parentage.
With a trembling hand he rang Mrs. Brinkley's bell, starting back in surprise when it was answered by no less a person than Sophie Nutter.
"Mr. Clarke!" she faltered, in blended surprise and pleasure.
"Sophie!" he exclaimed, following her into the little parlor, as she said:
"Come in, sir. All the folks are out but me, and I must say I am as much surprised to see you here to-day as I was to see Miss Roma yesterday."
Artful Sophie, she distrusted Roma, and took this method to find out if he knew of his proud daughter's goings-on.
"Roma here yesterday!" he exclaimed, in a voice of agony, feeling all his suspicions confirmed.
"Yes, sir, she was here to see old Mistress Jenks yesterday, and spent an hour with her!" returned Sophie quickly, scenting some sort of a sensation in the air.