"What is the meaning of this? So you know Miss Braine?"
Again the worst in Wilkinson's nature asserted itself; he answered the Governor's question with a question.
"Do you know this woman's history, Governor Beekman?"
The woman had gathered herself together and stood motionless with downcast eyes, silent, inert.
In his turn the Governor ignored the man's question and demanded:
"Miss Braine, do you know this man?"
The woman hesitated, while her eyes slowly wandered across the room and rested on Leslie, standing with her hand in that of her father. A moment more and Madeline Braine had answered firmly:
"No, except through this Ilingsworth case."
"The Ilingsworth case!" exclaimed Wilkinson; "always the Ilingsworth case! Some day, Governor, the Ilingsworth case will be your undoing. Some day——"
Again there was an interruption. The private secretary pushed his way into the group. He was received by the Governor, with: