[CHAPTER XXXI.]
"How is Miss de Barryos?"
Manuel Meriaz was standing facing Mrs. Chalmers who had risen to greet him, endeavoring to conceal her expression of repugnance, and succeeding poorly, a smile upon his coarse lips which was far from attractive, though he endeavored to make his voice gentle, even human.
"All right again, I fancy," replied Mrs. Chalmers, wearily.
"Still a prisoner?"
She made a gesture of deprecation.
"Jessica seems to have gone mad these last few days," she answered. "She must realize how impossible it is for this to go on longer, but she will listen to no reason, hear no argument. She will confide nothing to me, but is like a wild creature if I attempt to speak to her."
"Let her alone," advised Meriaz, indifferently. "Stolliker will be here tomorrow, and it will all come to an end quickly enough then."
"Stolliker here tomorrow? Who told you?"
"Jessica."