"You must remain here," said Jarman, decisively. "If you try to escape you may be captured. Fan knows of your disguise." "And Berry?" asked Frank, in alarm. "I can't say that. Fan was down to-day, but she did not tell me if she had revealed anything to Berry." "Who told her? But I needn't ask. It was Darrel." "You are wrong. Both Darrel and Fairy Fan deny that." "Then who could have told?" "I can't say. But Fan came down to see you." "To have me arrested, I suppose?" said Frank, bitterly. "On the contrary, she wished to make you a proposal of marriage." Frank sat still for a moment, then, in spite of his troubles, laughed softly. "You or she must be crazy, Eustace." "Then it is she. Her message, which I promised to deliver on conditions, was that if you would marry her she would save you." "Then if you see her again you can refuse her offer. I should not think of marrying her. I have got over my infatuation there." "And have placed your heart elsewhere?" said Jarman, quietly. "We agreed not to speak of that," said Lancaster, stiffly. "I am an honourable man, and in my position--oh! it's ridiculous. Don't hit a man when he is down, Eustace." "I'm not so ungenerous, I hope." "You are the best of good fellows," said Frank, impetuously, "but my nerves are worn rather thin with all this worry. What are the conditions on which you delivered the message?" "I'll tell you later. I have a scheme in my head to counterplot Fan and the man she calls her uncle." "Don't you believe that he is her uncle?" asked Frank. "No," replied Eustace, decidedly, "I don't. She met him in San Francisco, and he became her accomplice to get Anchor out of the way. I am sure that Berry--or, as he was then--Sakers, fired the shot that killed the man. But in some way the two were done out of this fortune connected with Denham and with you. They brought the boy to England to plot against you, and then intended when you were put out of the way to get the money from Natty. That poor lad doesn't know it, but I believe his life is not safe." "You don't think they would murder him?" "They murdered Starth. Oh, yes, I am certain on that point. If Berry didn't fire the shot himself, he got someone else to do it. But the object was to throw the blame on you, so that you might be hanged. I can't think why it should be necessary. However, we may find out from the sealed letter." "Ah!" Frank started, and spoke in a rather agitated tone. "I forgot that in my troubles. Have you got it?" "Yes, it's in my pocket. I'll show it to you immediately. Have you a candle here?" "Yes. But I am afraid to use it. The light might be seen from the road." "And if Mrs. Baker saw it she would certainly make inquiries. We'll wait for a bit. I'll show you the letter before I go, and then I must talk to Mildred and Mrs. Perth. But about Berry. I wonder if anyone knows details of his past life?" "Darrel does," said Lancaster, promptly. "He saw him in Los Angeles."