"Yes, I did," said Fane defiantly. "Julia's money could keep up that house, and Flora had none. I told Julia I was fond of yachting, and she allowed me to go away for months at a time. She did not mind so long as I left her control of the business, as I did. I bought into the firm with a little of my money, and a good deal of hers. The business rightfully belonged to her, so she did the work." "And you went away yachting?" "I never yachted at all--or very little," said Fane in a contradictory manner. "I spent the time when away from Julia with Flora." "And the time you indulged yourself as a commercial traveller, you spent at Ajax Villa," said Calvert. "Yes. I managed to keep both wives, and both households." "Calvert and Tracey, amazed by the utter shamelessness of the man, stared at one another. But they could not help admiring the cleverness which he had employed to live this double life. How long did it last?" asked Calvert. "For three years more or less. At last things became so bad that I wanted to be away from Flora for a long time. I suggested that I might be a relative of Brand and that I should go to Australia. Flora believed that I went." "And all the time you were posing as Fane at Ajax Villa?" "I was--I told Julia I was tired of yachting. I remained at home----" "One of your homes." "In my own home," said Fane, with emphasis, "under my own name. I suppose this man Bocaros--although I don't know him--must have seen me and have put two and two together." "Yes," chimed in Tracey, "and no doubt he heard of you from Miss Mason, who is a friend of Gerty B. She is the daughter of Bocaros's landlady, Mrs. Baldwin, and he was frequently at her house." Fane groaned. "To think I should have been given away like that," he said in a melancholy tone, "and I never knew the danger. I wonder why Bocaros told Flora?" "For the money, I guess," said Tracey, "seeing she made a will in his favour. But that needs clearing up; the professor shall do it. You get along with your story." "There's little more to tell." "Oh yes, there's a lot. What about the crime?" "I am innocent," protested Fane solemnly; "I came back to Flora while Bocaros was poisoning her mind. She accused me of being married but I denied it. She never mentioned Bocaros, or I should have been placed on my guard. I remained a time in the Hampstead house, and I suppose while I was there Flora, under the direction of Bocaros, managed to take an impression of my key. I always wore my latch-key on a chain, but Flora could easily have taken an impression while I was asleep. Then I went away for the last time, thinking that her jealous fears were at rest. She told me about the money, and I was enraged to think how I was done out of it. Julia has not ten thousand a year," said Fane sadly, "or anything like it. I would have done better to stick to Flora."