"And more," answered the doctor, coolly. "I have a double nature--a Jekyl and Hyde nature, as in Stevenson's wonderful story. As Sir Daniel Jerce, I have won my position by brain power and hard work, and am a philanthropist and a reasonable man. But as Daniel Jerce, the creature, I am devoured by passions, and am capable of lowering myself to the level of the beasts. My life in Harley Street was, and is, above reproach--but my other life----" "Oh!" cried Clarice, with sudden horror. "Ferdy has told us something of that. Say no more--it's too terrible." Jerce bowed. "You have been so kind, Miss Baird, that your wish is my law," he said, politely. "Well, then, for my secret life. I required money. I made much, and spent it, and I wanted more. Horran, being only your guardian and not having money of his own, was too honest to help me. Barras came to me, years and years ago, to be cured of a disease. I did cure him, and he was grateful. He lent me his own money for a time, but I still wanted more. Then he lent me some that belonged to the estate, when I was in difficulties, and he lent it out of sheer gratitude to me. Don't blame Barras, Miss Baird. He was as good a man as was Henry Horran. But to make a long story short, from the moment Barras tampered with the trust money, he was in my power, and I threatened to tell Horran unless I received more." "Blackmail," muttered Anthony, with disgust, and swiftly writing. "Yes, I told you that the Jekyl side of my character was unpleasant, Captain Ackworth. Well, then, Barras cooked the accounts----" "I thought so--I said so," muttered Clarice. "Then you are very clever," said Jerce, calmly, "for Barras managed to conceal things in a wonderful way. Of course, when Horran became ill, and gave Barras a power of attorney, it was easier to deceive him. And Barras also deceived you, Miss Baird, clever as you thought you were. Your ignorance of business helped him." "I quite understand," said Clarice, coldly; "a girl such as I am, was unequal to such clever scoundrels. You got the money." "And I spent it," said Jerce, coolly; "forty thousand pounds. Barras gave me the money as it came in, and used some himself. He made up the story about giving it to Horran in gold----" "So that we might be deceived," interposed Miss Baird. "Well, we were." "Oh, don't blame yourself," said Jerce, in a jeering manner; "Barras would have cheated a much more clever person than you are, Miss Baird, with the facilities at his command--Horran's illness, the power of attorney--no one to interfere, and all the rest of it." "Spare me more details, Sir Daniel. You got the forty thousand pounds and spent it. Then you determined to kill Uncle Henry."