XX THE SECRET
 Mrs. Chatterton, standing¹ by her toilet table, carefully examining her wealth of gray hair to note
the changes in its tint², was suddenly surprised in the very act of picking out an obnoxious³ white
hair, by a slight noise in the further corner of the apartment. And dropping her fingers quickly and
turning away from the glass, she exclaimed, "How dare you, Hortense, come in without
knocking?"
"If you make a noise I'll kill you," declared a man, standing in the shadow of a portiere and
watching her underneath⁴ a slouched black hat. There was a slight click that caused the listener's
nerves to thrill. But her varied⁵ life had brought her nothing if not self-control, and she coolly
answered, "If you want my money, say so."
"Not exactly money, ma'am," said the man, "for I don't suppose you have much here. But I'll thank
you to hand over that there box of diamonds." He extended the other hand with its dingy⁶ fingers
toward a large ebony jewel-case elaborate with its brass⁷ hinges, and suggestive of double locks, on
a corner of the table.
"If you are determined⁸ to take it, I suppose I must give it to you," said Mrs. Chatterton, with
evident reluctance⁹ handing the box designated, very glad to think she had but a few days before
changed the jewels to another repository to escape Hortense's prying¹⁰ eyes. In making the
movement she gave a

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