"It was never in need of recovery," snapped Clara. "I guessed as much--one of the smaller embellishments of your very ornate conspiracy. Boldini, since you confess that you are not Mr. Carson, please to hand over that bangle." Boldini shook it down on to his wrist. "You can have it with pleasure," said he, sullenly, "but I can't get it off." "How was it got on?" asked Aldean. "It was filed through and joined on my wrist." "Ah, well! I am afraid that process will have to be reversed to-morrow. It can't be done here to-night. Who gave you that bangle?" "Dr. Drabble.' "Was it he who killed Angus Carson?" asked Olive, with embarrassing suddenness. "I don't know." "Come, come!" cried Jim, sharply, "the truth, please." "I am telling you the truth," retorted Boldini "I do not know who killed Carson. I did not even know that he was killed until Miss Bellairs there asked me about the smell of sandal-wood. Then, as I read the account of the murder in the _Morning Planet_, it occurred to me that the dead man might be the person I was representing. I asked Semberry about it, and he admitted I was right; but he refused me all details." "Then Angus Carson was really murdered in Athelstane Place?" "According to Semberry, yes." "Did Semberry say that he had killed him?" asked Aldean. "No. He swore he did not kill him; and that he did not know who did. Drabble also declares himself innocent." "You are all innocent, according to your own showing," said Olive, ironically; "but I can hardly believe, Signor Boldini, that you were so simple as to assume the impersonation of an original of whom you know nothing." Clara looked up with a strange smile on her sallow face. "You evidently know nothing of the Anarchists," she said coldly. "Implicit obedience is the first law with them. Carlo was told to represent a man called Angus Carson. He did so without asking questions. How much longer is this to go on?" she cried furiously; "it is now seven o'clock. I am tired of it." "I don't care for the Socratian method myself," observed Aldean, blandly. "On the whole, I think it would be best, perhaps, for Boldini here to acquaint us with the particulars of his share in the conspiracy straight away." "Tell them, Carlo!" commanded Miss Trall. "Shall I tell them everything?" whimpered Boldini. "Everything," she repeated emphatically. "We have cut ourselves off from the brotherhood--so it really does not matter. Lord Aldean has promised to let us go if we tell the truth. You had better tell him." "Tell the truth and restore the money," murmured Jim, politely. Boldini winced at the last remark, but nevertheless applied himself to his most unpalatable task. He evidently intended cutting it as short as possible. He started off at top speed. Aldean wrote down the gist of what he said.