She hesitated a moment, unwilling to trust so sacred a thing to other hands; then remembering her oath, she went feverishly to her escritoire. As she was selecting it, a knock sounded upon the door, and Ahbel entered.
"Mr. Pierrepont, Miss de Barryos," she exclaimed, striving to calm the excitement of her tone.
Carlita turned like a tigress, the precious letters dropping from her hands to the floor about her.
"Tell him," she cried, passionately, "that Miss de Barryos is not at home to him, neither now nor ever!"
Edmond Stolliker was upon his feet in a moment.
"Wait!" he exclaimed, in command, to the maid; then crossed the room suddenly and stood facing Miss de Barryos. "If we are to discover the murderer of your fiancé, Miss de Barryos," he said, earnestly, "you must be my unfailing ally. You must obey me absolutely. This man must suspect nothing whatever of your intentions. He must suppose that you believe every word that he speaks. He must even believe there might come a time when you would not be unfavorable to his suit. You must see him whenever he calls; keep him near you at whatever cost. If you would discover the murderer of your fiancé, you must be an actress as strong and subtle as Bernhardt herself, forgetting your own inclinations and hatreds, and thinking only of Olney Winthrop dead, and needing an avenger. You feel yourself capable of this?"
"Of anything that will insure justice to the dead and to the living!"
"Ahbel, say to Mr. Pierrepont that Miss de Barryos will be down at once," the detective said, quietly. "Is there any convenient cover from which I could hear a conversation between you?"
"Yes; the conservatory."
"Good! Let no detail escape. Ask him every question that you can put with safety, without allowing him to suspect that it is for greater cause than your natural interest. You can do this?"