"You can't trace gold, Miss Baird, and Horran always insisted upon having the money in gold. That is what makes me think that he was a miser. I called him a scoundrel--if he spent the money on his own pleasures he certainly was a scoundrel. If, on the other hand, he merely kept the gold to enjoy looking at, and it was stolen from him at the time of his death, he was simply a miser, and has paid, by his painful end, for being a miser. However"--Barras stood up--"there is no more to be said. I think that I have made myself plain, Miss Baird, and whenever you like to come to my office, I shall talk over future money arrangements. Meanwhile, I must prove the will, pay the death duties and legacies, and put things straight. I shall now take my leave." "Will you not stop to tea or dinner, Mr. Barras?" "No, I thank you," said the lawyer, stiffly, and, taking up his bag, he walked in a stately manner out of the house. Ferdy rose, and after hesitating for a moment, ran after him quickly. Jerce and Clarice were left alone. "What will you do?" asked Jerce, slowly. "I must ask Anthony," said Clarice, mechanically. "Captain Ackworth?" "Anthony," she repeated quietly, "the man I intend to marry." CHAPTER XIII THE NEW EPOCH Dr. Jerce looked at Clarice with a lowering face, and his expressive eyes flashed with anger. He was a strong-willed man, accustomed to having his own way in the face of all obstacles, and the merest hint of opposition annoyed him. Having set his heart on marrying Miss Baird, he was determined to bring about the match, and, notwithstanding the hint of refusal which she had given him, while Horran was alive, his determination remained unchanged. To be sure, he had then been ignorant of her engagement with Ackworth, and had calculated upon an easier conquest of her objections. But now that he knew her affections were engaged, he saw clearly that it would be extremely difficult for him to achieve his purpose. Clarice, as he knew, was no weak girl, to be talked into surrender; but for all that, Jerce attempted to bend her to his will. The doctor was too clever a man to give way to bad temper, knowing that such a weakness might lose him the prize he aimed at. Inwardly angry, he was outwardly calm, and after that first swift look of annoyance, he regained his suavity. "Does Captain Ackworth know that you intend to marry him?" asked Jerce, politely. Clarice threw back her head haughtily. "Certainly. He has proposed to me, and we are engaged." "Since when, may I ask?" "You may ask, but I am not bound to answer." "I am your oldest friend, Miss Baird, now that poor Horran is dead." Clarice lifted her eyebrows. "Still I fail to see that being an old friend gives you the right to cross-examine me about things which do not concern you." "It concerns me a great deal that you should be happy," said Jerce, disconcerted by her calmness. "Then you can set your mind at rest, doctor. I am happy."