"All the better," said I, taking a seat. "Now that we are alone I wish to hear the story of your transformation from Francis to Felix." "I told you I was Francis all along," he said reproachfully. "Yes; in such a way that I thought you were Felix," I answered ironically. "You might have trusted me, Briarfield. It would have been better for us all." "I have no doubt it would," answered Francis gloomily, "but I was afraid lest you should think I had killed Felix." "I knew you were incapable of such a thing." "Thank you," he said gratefully. "Had I known you were so true a friend, I should have made you my confidant. As it was, when I remembered my wild threats of killing Felix, I dreaded lest, finding him dead, you might accuse me of his murder." "Who killed him?" "I don't know. When I saw him, he was dead." "And Strent and Rose?" "They had left the house." "What time was this?" "About six in the morning." "And I was not up till ten o'clock. You had plenty of time to fly. But what put it into your head to place the dead body of Felix in your bed?" "It's a long story, and I hardly know if you will understand my motives." "Yes, I do. You were afraid of being accused of the crime. It was foolish of you to mistrust me. I would have aided rather than blamed you." "I see that now. It was kind of you to try and avenge my death. Unfortunately, all your industry was dangerous to me, and I had to baffle it." "You certainly did so very adroitly. But tell me the story. I am anxious to know what took place." Francis was quite unnerved by the late interview, and, before continuing, poured himself out a glass of brandy. Then, pushing the bottle toward me, he began his strange narrative without further preamble. "When I went to bed that night," he said slowly, "I could not sleep for ever so long. I kept wondering if your theory could possibly be true about the treachery of Felix. If it were, I considered how I should punish my brother. While thus thinking, I fell asleep, and didn't wake up till close on six o'clock in the morning. All my troubles came on me with full force, and you know how much worse things look at that hour than in broad daylight. There was no chance of further sleep, so I put on my clothes and went downstairs. The first thing I saw was my brother Felix lying dead on the floor." "Had you any idea who killed him?" "Not the slightest. I thought it was either Strent or the girl, so I went in search of them. They had fled, for I found my horse gone, so this flight confirmed me in my suspicion. At first I determined to wake you up and explain all, but, remembering my foolish talk of the previous night, I thought you might think me guilty of my brother's death." "That was a foolish idea." "Well, put yourself in my place, and you would have thought as I." "Not a bit of it. I should have had more moral courage."