'You wanted money badly,' she gasped. Her words came with difficulty. 'You told me so every time I saw you. It was to get money that I went to live with Armorel. I could not get it in that way. But I found another way. She told me about the rubies. I knew where they were kept. In the bank. In a sealed packet. I had seen an inventory of the things in the bank. Armorel told me the story of the rubies, and I never believed it--I never thought that there would be any search for the man's heirs. I never thought the story was true. She told me, besides, all about her other things--her miniatures and snuff-boxes, and watches and rings. She showed me all her beautiful lace, worth thousands. And as for the gold things and the jewels, they were all in the bank, in separate sealed parcels, numbered. She showed me the bank receipts. Opposite each number was written the contents of each, and opposite Number Three was written "The case containing the rubies."' 'Well? Well?' 'Hush! What did I do? Let me think. I am going mad, I believe. It was for your sake--all for your sake, Alec! All for your sake that I have ruined you!' 'Ruined me? Quick! What have you done?' 'It was for your sake, Alec--all for your sake! Oh, for your own sake I have lost and ruined you!' 'You will drive me mad, I think!' he gasped. 'I wrote a letter, one day, to the manager of the bank. I wrote it in imitation of Armorel's hand. I signed her name at the end so that no one could have told it was a forgery. My letter told him to give the sealed packet numbered three to the bearer who was waiting. I sent the letter by a commissionaire. He returned bringing the packet with him.' 'And then?' 'Oh! Then--then--Alec, you will kill me--you will surely kill me when you know! You care for nothing in the world but for money--and I--I have stolen away your money! It is gone--it is gone!' 'You stole those rubies? But I have seen them. They are in Jagenal's safe. What do you mean?' he cried hoarsely. 'I have sold them. I stole them, and I sold them all--they were worth--how much did you say? Fifty--sixty--eighty thousand pounds? I sold them all, Alec, for four thousand two hundred and twenty-five pounds! I sold them to a Dutchman in Hatton Garden.' 'You are raving mad! You dream! I have seen them. I have handled them.' 'What you have seen were the worthless imitation jewels that I substituted. I found out where to get sham rubies made of paste, or something--some cut and some uncut. I bought them, and I substituted them in the case. Then I returned the packet to the bank. I had the packet in my possession no more than one morning. The man who bought the stones swore they were worth no more. He said he should lose money by them: he was going away to America immediately, and wanted to settle at once, otherwise he would not give so much. That is what I have done, Alec.'