Ungrachful!" Constance had been thinking very hard, paying no heed to his maudlin defence.

It rapidly was dawning upon her that these men had secured her lover's release on bail at half-past ten o'clock, an hour and a half before she had given her bribe of nine thousand crowns to the gaoler.
That being the case, it was becoming clear to her that the wretch deliberately had taken the money, knowing that Brock was not in the prison, and with the plain design to rob her of the amount.

It was a transaction in which he could be perfectly secure; bribing of public officials is a solemn offence in Austria and Germany.

She could have no recourse, could make no complaint.

Her money was gone! "Where is Mr.Br--Mr.Medcroft ?" she demanded, her voice full of anxiety.