"Wild horses should not drag a word from me, sir, without permission," replied she, earnestly.
"I fully believe it," answered Mr. Shelton. "Therefore I shall commission Mrs. Colville to take you fully into our confidence after I leave here. You will thereby hear a very romantic story regarding the young lady whom you so nobly befriended some time ago."
"Bless her sweet face! I never shall forget her," said Mrs. Mason, on whom indeed that little incident had made a deep and lasting impression.
"I hope you may yet have the pleasure of meeting her under more favorable auspices," said the detective, strong in the faith that he should yet rescue Lily from her cruel and unrelenting captors.
"Mr. Shelton," said the invalid, abruptly, "I have been thinking of sending for my poor old mother from the country. I must tell you that I ran away from home to marry that villain, Colville. I have never seen my poor old mother since, but I sent her my marriage certificate to keep for me, and to assure her that I was an honorable wife. I have never seen or heard from her since. I would like to see her very much."
"Well?" he said, as she paused, looking wistfully at him.
"Would you advise me to send for her?" asked Fanny.
Mr. Shelton took down a little mirror hanging over the small toilet table and held it before her face.
"Is it possible your mother would recognize you?" he inquired, gently.
Poor Fanny did not know how sadly she was changed before. She looked at herself and shuddered.