so was an accident, only caused by her unwillingness
to dwell on the money she had received when telling
her story to Mrs. Guthrie.

The old woman turned a mottled red and yellow
colour, in the poor light of the cell.

"Please try and remember," he said sternly, "if you
mentioned me at all."

"I swear I did not!" she cried.

"Did you say that you had received money?"

And Anna answered, truthfully, "Yes, Herr Head;
I did say that."

"Fool! Fool indeed -- when it would have been so
easy for you to pretend you had done it to please your
nephew!"

"But Mrs. Otway, she has forgiven me. My
gracious lady does not think I did anything so very
wrong," cried Anna.

"Mrs. Otway? What does she matter! They will
do all they can to get out of you how you received
this money. You must say ---- Are you attending,
Frau Bauer?"

She had sunk down again on her bench; she felt her
legs turning to cotton-wool. "Yes," she muttered.
"Yes, I am attending----"

"You must say," he commanded, "that you always
received the money from your nephew. That since
the war you have had none. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," she murmured -- "quite clear, Herr Head."

"If you do not say that, if you bring me into this
dirty business, then I, too, will say what _I_ know about
_you."_

She looked at him uncomprehendingly. What did
he mean?

[[347]]

p346 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p347w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p348

v?