“Have you anything to add?” asked her father sternly.

“No,” said Kate shaking her head.  “It’s true.  We intended to run away, didn’t we Fitz?”

“Never mind about Mr. Bagley,” thundered her father.  “Haven’t you a word of shame for this disgrace you have brought upon me?”

“Oh papa, don’t be so cross.  Jefferson did not care for me.  I couldn’t be an old maid.  Mr. Bagley has a lovely castle in England, and one day he’ll sit in the House of Lords.  He’ll explain everything to you.”

“He’ll explain nothing,” rejoined the senator grimly.  “Mr. Bagley returns to England to-night.  He won’t have time to explain anything.”

“Returns to England?” echoed Kate dismayed.

“Yes, and you go with me to Washington at once.”

The senator turned to Ryder.

“Good-bye Ryder.  The little domestic comedy is ended.  I’m grateful it didn’t turn out a drama.  The next time I pick out a son-in-law I hope I’ll have better luck.”

He shook hands with Jefferson, and left the room followed by his crestfallen daughter.

Ryder, who had gone to write something at his desk, strode over to where Mr. Bagley was standing and handed him a cheque.

“Here, sir, this settles everything to date.  Good-day.”

“But I—­I—­” stammered the secretary helplessly.

“Good-day, sir.”

Ryder turned his back on him and conversed with his son, while Mr. Bagley slowly, and as if regretfully, made his exit.

CHAPTER XV

It was now December and the Senate had been in session for over a week.  Jefferson had not forgotten his promise, and one day, about two weeks after Mr. Bagley’s spectacular dismissal from the Ryder residence, he had brought Shirley the two letters.  She did not ask him how he got them, if he forced the drawer or procured the key.  It sufficed for her that the precious letters—­the absolute proof of her father’s innocence—­were at last in her possession.  She at once sent them off by registered mail to Stott, who immediately acknowledged receipt and at the same time announced his departure for Washington that night.  He promised to keep her constantly informed of what he was doing and how her father’s case was going.  It could, he thought, be only a matter of a few days now before the result of the proceedings would be known.

The approach of the crisis made Shirley exceedingly nervous, and it was only by the exercise of the greatest self-control that she did not betray the terrible anxiety she felt.  The Ryder biography was nearly finished and her stay in Seventy-fourth Street would soon come to an end.  She had a serious talk with Jefferson, who contrived to see a good deal of her, entirely unsuspected by his parents, for Mr. and Mrs. Ryder, had no reason to believe that their son had any more than a mere bowing acquaintance with the clever young authoress.  Now that Mr. Bagley was