"No, confound you! I wish to see the end of this affair, or I'll get no peace of mind. It is too late to remedy the matter, so I must have my curiosity allayed by learning all the ins and outs of this enigma. Come, let us begin. You have found Rose Strent?" "Yes. She is a burlesque actress, and plays at the Frivolity Theater. Her name in the programme is set down as Rose Gernon, but this is doubtless her stage name. Rose Strent is her real one." "I'm not so sure of that," said Merrick sharply. "If she went into that Fen Inn business with her eyes open, she doubtless took a false name, so as to baffle inquiry." "Then what about the landlord, who called himself Edward Strent?" "Oh, we must find out all about him also. No doubt his name is false also. Did he look like her father?" "Well, I can't say that there was much likeness between them. He looked to me like a valet." "A valet," muttered Merrick reflectively. "Queer! I wonder if he really was a valet--valet to Felix." "In that case he would be with him now." "It is not impossible. He has Felix in his power, and can stay on just as he likes. It's my opinion he'll stay till he's pensioned off. Case of blackmail, I fancy." "I think Rose Gernon is blackmailing Felix also." "Quite so. What else can he expect? Or else," added Merrick, looking straight at me, "it's a case of love and marriage." "What! Do you think Felix promised to marry Rose if she helped him to get rid of his brother?" "I think he might lead her to believe he would do so." "This is absurd, Merrick," said I sharply. "Felix is in love with Olivia. The motive of the crime was to gain possession of Olivia's hand. Rose would not help Felix if she knew that." "Precisely! If she knew it. But it's my opinion that she does not know it. I believe Felix gulled her into the belief that he would marry her if she gave her assistance, but he has not the slightest intention of keeping his promise." "And what excuse could he make for wishing to murder his brother?" "Ah, there you have me! I don't know that. Of course you and I are aware of the real motive of the crime, but Rose is ignorant of it. She thinks she knows, no doubt, but I'm certain she has been put off with a lie." "But he can't keep the information from her forever. Even if he keeps quiet, someone is bound to tell her that Felix is engaged to Miss Bellin." "There you are wrong," said Merrick with grim jocularity. "Everyone thinks Francis is engaged to Miss Bellin." "Yes; but Rose Gernon knows well enough that Francis is dead, and that the engaged man must be Felix posing as Francis." "There is some truth in that," admitted the doctor, looking puzzled. "I suppose he must have kept that fact from her so far, as I don't see what possible explanation he could give her." "Always assuming she is in love with him," said I musingly.