"It's a lie," broke in Jerce, with a sudden flash of rage. "I never intended Horran any harm." "By your own mouth you are condemned," said Anthony, quickly. "Miss Baird never mentioned names. Why should you think that she meant Mr. Horran, I ask you?" "Because Horran is dead, and death was mentioned," said Jerce, striving to extricate himself from the difficulty. "Perhaps you will explain why I have been asked here to be insulted?" "Would you rather that the police insulted you?" asked Anthony, coldly. "You speak in riddles, Captain Ackworth." "I think you can answer them, Sir Daniel." "I fear that I cannot," rejoined Jerce, shrugging. But with all his calmness, an air of fear pervaded his whole bearing, and his cold eyes glanced uneasily from one person to another. "Will you explain the meaning of all this, Ferdinand?" he said, addressing himself to the one person in the room who had not yet spoken. "I have explained," said Ferdy, half afraid and half defiantly; "they know everything." "Concerning what?" asked Jerce, wincing again, but still self-controlled. "Clarice and Anthony know the whole business," cried the young man, his voice loud and angry, as he strove to assert himself in the presence of the man he so greatly feared. "I have told them how you got the Purple Fern stamp, and how you tried to make me kill Uncle Henry. There! You can say what you like now." Sir Daniel's nostrils dilated, and his eyes grew hard. "You are talking nonsense, I think," he said, perfectly calmly. "Nonsense!" stormed Ferdy, quailing under those stern eyes. "It is not nonsense, and you know it. I have had quite enough of being bullied by you, Jerce"--he did not pay him the compliment of a respectful use of the great man's title. "You have been my master too long. It is my turn now. And who are you to dictate to me?--you, who lead a fast life, who squander money, who play fast and loose with women of the worst--" "Stop!" cried Jerce, so loudly that the young man's voice died away. "Remember that your sister is present. My character is high enough to need no denial to the charges you bring against it. The King does not honour men such as you have described, with knighthoods." "Ah, you have always been clever enough to keep things dark," said Ferdy, bitterly. "But I overheard you talking to Barras. I know that you were in league with him to cheat Uncle Henry out of our money, and the forty thousand pounds went into--" "You lie--you lie," interrupted the doctor, losing his temper, and a perspiration broke out on his high bald forehead. "You know that you lie. You can't prove a word you say." "Barras can, and Barras will." "Barras will not. Send for Barras now. I appearl to you, Miss Baird. I appeal to you, Captain Ackworth. My character is at stake. I demand that you telegraph to London for Barras, that he may be confronted with this young liar. I am not afraid to face the truth."