us--even if we have lost." She said it with a sort of grim humor.

"And you have put Granville Barnes out of the way, first?" I
asked, remembering the chlorin. She laughed shrilly.

"That was an accident--his own carelessness. He was carrying a
tank of it for us. Only his chauffeur's presence of mind in
throwing it into the shrubbery by the road saved his life and
reputation. No, young man; he was one of the manipulators, too.
But the chief of them was--" She paused as if to enjoy one brief
moment of triumph at least. "The president of the company," she
added.

"No, no, no!" cried Maude Euston.

"Yes, yes, yes! He does not dare deny it. They were all in it."

"Mrs. Labret--you lie!" towered Lane, in a surging passion, as he
stepped forward and shook his finger at her. "You lie and you know
it. There is an old saying about the fury of a woman scorned." She
paid no attention to him whatever.

"Maude Euston," she hissed, as though Lane had been as
inarticulate as the boxes of gold about, "you have saved your
lover's reputation--perhaps. At least the shipment is safe. But
you have ruined your father. The deal will go through. Already
that has been arranged. You may as well tell Kennedy to let us go
and let the thing go through. It involves more than us."

Kennedy had been standing back a bit, carefully keeping them all