"But how--how, in God's name, did you come by it?"
"My mother left it to me, with all her other few books and possessions."
There was a pause. Lord Lackington came closer.
"Who was your mother?" he said, huskily.
The words in answer were hardly audible. Julie stood before him like a culprit, her beautiful head humbly bowed.
Lord Lackington dropped the book and stood bewildered.
"Rose's child?" he said--"Rose's child?"
Then, approaching her, he placed his hand on her arm.
"Let me look at you," he commanded.
Julie raised her eyes to him, and at the same time dumbly held out to him a miniature she had been keeping hidden in her hand. It was one of the miniatures from the locked triptych.