"In town, over a year ago," he replied, calming down. "She is, as you know, very beautiful, and her mother wished her to make a great match. I am comfortably off, but have not a title, therefore Mrs. Bellin would not sanction the engagement. Then I had to go out to South America on business connected with my property. Before I left she promised to become my wife, and swore that nothing should part us or render her false to me. See, here is the ring she gave me," he added, stretching out his hand, "this pearl ring. I was to be back in six months, and our engagement was to be made public. I am back in six months, and the first news I hear is that she is to marry Felix." "Did she write and tell you so?" "No, but Felix did, and asked me to meet him here before seeing her." "Now, I wonder if this apparent treachery of Miss Bellin has anything to do with your twinship." "What do you mean?" asked Briarfield, starting up. "You are so like in appearance," said I, "that no one could tell you apart. You have lived constantly together save for the last six months, and know every action of each other's lives. It may be that Felix has passed himself off to Miss Bellin as you." "Impossible! She would detect the deception." "I doubt it, save by intuition. I assure you, Briarfield, that the resemblance between you is most perplexing. There is not the slightest difference. You dress the same, you have the same features, you almost think the same. It is scarce possible to tell which is which when apart. I thought to-night that you were Felix." "It cannot be, it cannot be," he muttered feverishly; "her own heart would tell her the truth." "Did you tell Felix of your engagement?" I asked abruptly. "Yes; I told him all." "And when did you hear last from Miss Bellin?" "Some three months ago. It was because she did not reply to my letters that I came back so soon." "To whom were your letters sent?" "To her, of course!" "Care of Felix?" said I, with instinctive suspicion. "Why, yes," he said, with a sudden frown. "I did not want Mrs. Bellin to know of our engagement, so did not dare to write openly. Felix undertook to deliver the letters." "He may have undertaken to do so, but," I added forcibly, "he did not." "Denham!" "The whole case is as clear as day," said I. "Felix was in love with Miss Bellin, and wished to marry her. Knowing she was in love with you, he was well aware he had no chance, so resorted to trickery. When you left for Chili, he gave her your letters for three months, then saying he was going abroad, ostensibly left England, but really stayed, and presented himself as--you." "As me!" "Yes. He has traded on the marvelous resemblance between you. He knows all your life, all your love affairs, and I have no doubt that Miss Bellin believes that he is Francis Briarfield, her lover, returned from South America in three months instead of six." "If I thought so," muttered Francis, biting his fingers, "if I thought so----"