"Great Heavens, Briarfield! have you no natural affection? Don't I tell you that your brother is lying dead there? Can't you understand the necessity of attending to so serious a matter without delay? If you have no affection, you might at least have decency." "I decline to believe that my brother is dead," said Briarfield coolly; "that letter shown to you by Olivia proves that he was in Paris yesterday. He could not have come over so quickly, and, besides, would have no reason to go to the Fen Inn." "Of course, if you insist upon assuming your brother's name, I can say nothing, but I know the truth, and had it from the lips of Francis." "What do you mean?" asked Olivia. "I mean that Francis returned from Chili a few days ago and went to the Fen Inn by appointment in order to hear the explanation of Felix." "What explanation?" "The reason of Felix passing himself off as Francis." "You are utterly mistaken, Mr. Denham. I swear that this is Francis, the man to whom I am engaged!" "Can you wish for stronger proof?" asked Felix, with the marked intention of insulting me. I paid no attention to his sneer, but turned round to Miss Bellin, and asked a pertinent question. "Where is the pearl ring you gave Francis, Miss Bellin?" "The pearl ring!" she said, much agitated. "Yes, I did give Francis a pearl ring, but he lost it. Did you not lose it, Francis?" she added, turning toward her lover. "Two months ago." "Well, Miss Bellin," said I deliberately, "if you come out with me to the Fen Inn, I will show you the pearl ring on the finger of the dead man." "It cannot be--it is impossible," she murmured, clasping her hands together in great distress. "I am utterly bewildered by your talk. Francis returned from Chili three months ago, and my mother consented to our engagement." "It was not Francis who returned," I asserted doggedly, "but Felix--Felix, who pretends to be in Paris." "But this letter!" "Bah! That was written here by Briarfield, and forwarded to a friend in Paris to be posted back to you." "Liar!" cried Felix, dashing forward with clenched fists; "if you don't retract that statement, I'll----" "For pity's sake be quiet," entreated Olivia, throwing herself between us. "Do not bring my mother here. Francis, you do not know the harm you are doing. Mr. Denham," she added, turning to me as he suddenly stepped back, "do you say this gentleman is Felix?" "I do! Most decidedly. "I tell you, sir, it is not so. This is my affianced lover, Francis. Great Heavens! could a woman make a mistake in so serious a matter?" "I believe the resemblance between the brothers would deceive anyone." "Let us settle the question by going to the Fen Inn," said Felix sharply. "I'll wager that there we find neither landlord nor anyone." "You don't believe me," said I quickly.