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“I know all that—but she was forced into it. Some one made her do it!”

“Oh, come now, mother,” Barham said, looking at her curiously, “how could that be? Who could so coerce Madeleine?”

“Call in that maid,” said Hutchins, who was getting a little excited.

“Claudine,” he said to her, quickly, “when you dressed Mrs. Barham for the masquerade, did she seem glad to be going or did she seem to be going unwillingly?”

Claudine hesitated and looked from one to another.

“Tell the truth,” said Barham, quietly, but Nelson saw him turn a shade paler as if he feared a revelation.

“Then,” the maid said, hesitatingly, “I can scarcely express it—yet it was this way; as if Madame wanted to go—yet feared it.”

“Feared it!” exclaimed Barham.

“Perhaps not that—” Claudine was really trying to give just the meaning she had in mind, “it was more as if Madame were about to make an experiment.”

“To go to such a place for the first time?” suggested Nelson.

“Yes, that is it. And she wanted to look her very best—and, still—she hesitated. Once or—yes, twice—she pushed me away, and said—‘I won’t go! Get me another gown.’ Then in an instant she said, ‘I will go! I must go!’ and she went through with it. When all arrayed, she looked so beautiful she was much pleased, and seemed eager then to go.”

“Inexplicable,” said Nelson, “but there was surely some influence at work, whether good or bad.”

“Of course there was!” Mrs. Selden cried hysterically. “And I have an idea that I know who is back of all this.”