"No; I thought, for your sake, it was best to keep my visit quiet. I left the cab in Circe Street, and walked to the villa. No one was about. I went into the garden, but did not see you. I then walked into the house, letting myself in by the front door. I knew that you must have gone away, but I opened the door, just to see if you had left a note. Also I saw a light on the second story and fancied you must have got in and were perhaps waiting for me. These things are rather contradictory," added Arnold, passing his hand across his face, "but the mystery of your letter and the appointment rather worried me. However, I went in, and up to the White Room. There I saw a woman lying, dead face upwards on the mat before the piano. I saw that she was my cousin and was horrified. I turned the body over, and found the wound. She had been murdered. I was horrified. At first I intended to give the alarm. Then I thought that I might be accused of the crime----" "But you had no motive," said Laura, "unless you knew that the money would come to you in the event of her death." "I did not know that," said Arnold quickly; "no one was more astonished than I when I heard of the will. But at the time I was overcome by the horror of the deed. I had not my wits about me. I wondered how Flora came there. Then, my being her cousin and having the latch-key. O Laura, can you not guess that I lost my head! waited to see how I could escape. I went down the stairs, and then opened the door. Mulligan was leaning over the gate. I went and spoke to him, and escaped in the way the papers stated. I lost the latch-key and so I was connected with the matter. Thanks to my stage dress and make-up, no one thought I was the man mentioned in the papers. I did not come forward at the inquest. Now that the money has come to me, I dare not come forward. Here is the motive for the commission of the crime,"--Arnold walked up and down the room feverishly---"no one will believe me guiltless. Laura, don't ask me any more. The peril of my position overwhelms me." "Darling." Laura rose to embrace him. "I believe in your innocence. We will find out who killed the woman. Do you suspect any one?" "No," said Arnold after a pause, and with an effort; "how can I suspect any one? I know very little of my cousin. But now that I have the money, I intend to learn the truth. Laura, Professor Bocaros seems to suspect me. I can't say why he should. He cannot possibly know I was at the villa on that night. He brought Jasher to me, and to avert all suspicion, I engaged Jasher to hunt for the assassin." "O Arnold, have you laid that bloodhound on your own track?" "Yes; it seems foolish, but it is wise. Even if Jasher does learn that I was at the villa, he will say nothing if I pay him well. He is a venal creature, as I gathered this morning. He may find the real criminal, and take this horror out of my life. If he does not, he will never hurt me if I pay. It is the professor I fear."