Page:The Duke Decides (1904).djvu/324

 bonds and handed her in return a lot of blank paper. See—examine it for yourself.”

And quickly possessing himself of the parcel, he held it for inspection. A spasm crossed Benzon’s sinister face, and there escaped him the involuntary cry:

“But you looked at the things, Cora, and pronounced them correct. You said we were only coming here for the heirlooms in the safe; yet you must have known.”

“Quite so,” the General proceeded, disregarding a smothered remark from the female culprit. “She knew that she had been hoodwinked, because she recognized my nephew under his disguise, and so at once examined the parcel. Thereupon she deceived you and her other associates for a private reason that had nothing to do with the interests of your precious combination. Like to hear what that reason was?”

Benzon flung a reproachful, half-imploring look at his strangely garbed chief, as though seeking for a denial from her, but failing to catch her downcast eye, he gave a sullen assent to the question.

“Very well,” the General went on, inexorably. “She withheld her confidence from her