They had quite a spirited argument with him; but he yielded the point at last, provided Mr. Cutler would consent, although not with a very good grace, and then they all went back to Mona and her unhappy companion.
But Mrs. Montague put a grave front upon her critical situation.
"Well, and have you decided the fate of your prisoner?" she inquired of Mr. Rider, with haughty audacity, although her face was as white as her handkerchief as she put the question.
"Well, madame," he retorted, with scant ceremony, "if it had been left with me to settle there would have been no discussion with you—you would be in the Tombs."
"Well?" she asked, impatiently, seeing there was more to be said about the matter, and turning to Mr. Corbin.
"We have decided, Mrs. Montague, that in the first place, you are to relinquish everything which you inherited from Mr. Dinsmore at the time of his death."
"Everything?" she began, interrupting him.
"Please listen to what I have to tell you, and defer your objections until later," remarked the lawyer, coldly.
"Yes, everything. You are also to give up all jewels of every description that you have in your possession to make good as far as may be the losses of those who have suffered through your dishonesty. You are then to pledge yourself to leave New York and never show yourself here again upon pain of immediate arrest, nor cause any of the revelations of this morning to be made public. Upon these conditions we have decided, for the sake of the feelings of others, to let you go free and not subject you to a trial for your crime—provided Mr. Cutler agrees to this decision."
"But—but I must have something to live on," the miserable woman said, with white lips. "I can't give up everything; the law would give me my third, and I ought to inherit much more through my child."