"That was the reason Jerce gave me, and said that it would be a merciful release, as Uncle Henry could not live long. But one night I overheard a conversation between Barras and Jerce--not the whole of it, but scraps, and I gathered that Barras was giving Jerce some of Uncle Henry's money--that is our money." "Oh!" Clarice started to her feet, "the forty thousand pounds. I am beginning to see. Sir Daniel Jerce had that money." "I can't say--I'm not sure. But there was some question of our money being lent; for Barras--as I heard--said something about Uncle Henry becoming suspicious of the business. I couldn't exactly make out what was meant," ended Ferdy, "but I gathered that the finances of the estate--our estate--were wrong." "I can see," said Clarice, quickly, "I can understand. Barras told a lie when he said that he gave Uncle Henry the forty thousand in gold. He gave it to Jerce, and made Uncle Henry the scapegoat. Nothing wrong was ever suspected by poor Uncle Henry. He told me some days before he was murdered that I should find everything in order." "Well, you did." "Yes," said Clarice, indignantly, "because Mr. Barras cooked the accounts, and put the blame of the missing thousands on to my poor guardian, who could not defend himself. The villain. And you knew this, Ferdy--you knew this, and did not tell me?" "How could I, when I was in Jerce's power over that bill? Besides, I didn't clearly understand things. I only heard bits of the conversation, you know." "Go on--go on," said Ackworth, quickly, "tell us how you committed the murder." "I did not--I did not," cried Ferdy, furiously. "I swear I am innocent of that crime. After Christmas, Jerce said that if I didn't kill Uncle Henry before the end of the year, that he would denounce me. He said that if I stamped the corpse with the Purple Fern everyone would think that Osip had killed him. Then he told me about Frank Clarke, and how he had given him the stamp and the gold box." "Then he did have the gold box?" asked Clarice. "Yes. He gave me the stamp, but he kept the box in his pocket, as he thought it was safest there. He feared lest it should be found, and lest the amethyst fern on it should give him away. When Osip attacked him out there"--Ferdy pointed to the terrace--"Jerce managed to throw it away, and then bamboozled me when I came up, about not having Osip arrested. He dared not," cried Ferdy, tauntingly, "as Osip might have given him away." "Oh, great heavens!" moaned Clarice, rocking herself to and fro, "is there much more of this?" "No," said her brother, quickly. "I'm sure I want to end it as much as you do, Clarry. I never intended to kill Uncle Henry, but Jerce insisted." "You've said that several times," said Anthony, impatiently. "And I say it again. I got drunk on that night because Jerce worried me so. I was quite feverish." "Were you really drunk?" asked Clarice, eagerly.