Maria explained. "I haven't seen Jerry since six o'clock," she declared; "he brought me up the cup of tea you ordered for the poor sick gentleman." "I ordered no tea," said Miss Berengaria, with uneasiness. "Jerry said you did, ma'am," persisted the maid; "he brought it to me, and said you wished the gentleman to drink it at once. He waited while the gentleman did so, and then said he would tell you. I forgot to mention it, ma'am, when you came up after dinner." Durham nodded significantly and rose. "I will go for Dr. Payne," he said, walking to the door. "Is the gentleman ill?" "Very, sir. He says he has a burning pain in his stomach." Durham nodded again and glanced at the old lady. "You were right," he said gravely, "there is something wrong," and he disappeared to fetch the doctor. "Where is Jerry gone?" asked Miss Berengaria. "I don't know, ma'am. James said he went out at half-past six with his bag, complaining you had sent him away." "James should have stopped him, or have told me." "So he says, ma'am, now." "When it is too late," said the angry Miss Berengaria. "Alice, come with me. Conniston, you can wait here with Miss Randolph," and before the couple could say a word, the old lady hurried out of the room, followed by Alice. Both were oppressed by a sense of anxiety. Michael was very ill and in great pain. Sitting up in bed, he was pressing both hands to his stomach and moaning. "Oh, give me water--water," he entreated, when the women appeared. "I am dying of thirst." While Miss Berengaria gave him drink, Alice looked into the tea-cup, which still stood on the table beside the bed. At the bottom there was a white sediment. "Something has been given to you in your tea," she said, turning pale. "It was some time after drinking the tea that I felt ill," moaned Michael, rocking to and fro. "Oh, how I suffer." "Jerry brought the tea," began Miss Plantagenet, when Michael interrupted her with a scream. "Jerry! Jerry! It's Beryl's work. Jerry did anything he told him. I believe he has poisoned me. Call him up--call him up." "Jerry has gone away," said Miss Berengaria, very pale. "Lost! Lost!" moaned Michael. "Ah, this was why he made me sign the will--this was why--oh, heavens! how I suffer--suffer--the pain--the pain. Help me--help me! I am poisoned!" Both the terrified women looked at one another, for even Miss Berengaria, strong-minded as she was, felt her nerve give way under this unexpected catastrophe. Then Alice advanced to the bedside, and from sheer force of habit addressed Michael by the false name he had assumed. "Bernard----" "I am not Bernard," he screamed, rocking and rocking. "I will confess all. I am a dead man. Beryl won't give me the money now. He wants it all to himself. He has made Jerry poison me. I am to die as Sir Simon died. I am lost--lost--lost. Oh, what a wicked man I have been."