Page:Watts Mumford--Whitewash.djvu/245

 maintained her stubborn silence, now and again darting venomous glances at Philippa through her heavy veil.

"Occupation?"

"She is a pal of Valdeck's, alias Kelsoff, alias O'Farrell."

"Lift that veil," commanded the officer.

The blue tissue was raised, revealing a sharp, not unhandsome face, on which the traces of a delicate make-up were apparent, contrasting with her present pallor.

Victoria started, looked, and looked again.

"Why," she cried, "I know her! That is the maid, Madame Château-Lamion's maid."

The woman turned on her an instant's searching glance; then, in spite of herself, recognition dawned in her face. "Connais pas," she said, shortly, with a shrug of her shoulders.

"You could swear to this?" the captain asked, slowly, of Victoria, who answered without hesitation:

"Yes, I will swear to it. I recall her perfectly."

"That's the consul's racket," Mulligan sug- 235