"No. It was Frederick Leighbourne. That young man had a speculation one which threatened to fail for want of money. Vass, who was devoted to him heart and soul, got the money for him from Julia. Leighbourne gave the notes to a stockbroker as security, on condition that they were not to be put into circulation unless the speculation failed. It did not fail, and Leighbourne got back the notes, which he sent Vass to return to Manuel. So you see it was Leighbourne who restored the notes." "The deuce!" said Torry. "Why doesn't Vass tell old Leighbourne?" "He has done so out of revenge, and I heard from Vass that Master Frederick had bolted this morning to the Continent. Vass intends to follow him, and, I suppose, make it hot for him for not helping him to keep his situation." "The jackal after the lion. I daresay they'll make it up again." "Not if Lydia can help it." "Why, what about that beauty?" "She eloped with Frederick, and, I suppose intends to become Mrs. Leighbourne. She'll soon send Vass to the right about." "H'm! A nice couple! She never loved Grent." "No, nor Blake either; she only loves herself. By the way," added Frank, "do you think that the story told by Grent to Donna Maria was true?" "Not all of it. He lied about the society, and that man he called Centa. For my part, I don't believe Centa exists. No, Darrel; all Grent's lies were invented to enable him to clear off with the money. "Well, Nemesis overtook him." "Yes; as it overtook Blake. It is no use trying to escape Fate. But both those men were scoundrels. The only one I pity is Julia, who only sinned out of love for Vass. She is the true victim. But I was going to ask you, what about Donna Maria?" Darrel grew red and confused, as a lover should. "She is going back to Lima with her aunt. Poor Donna Inez, she has been terribly upset by all this public scandal and the discovery of her husband's perfidy." "Pooh, pooh! she is better without the old libertine; but women never know when they are well off. It is a pity, though, she has lost all her money. "Not all. Old Leighbourne says he can save her a thousand a year out of the general wreck." "And that is opulence in Peru," said Torry. "Are you going to Peru also?" "Why do you ask?" said Frank, blushing again. "Because since the discovery of Blake's guilt you have been down to Wray House every day." "Donna Maria wanted things explained to her." "Oh, and it took three weeks to explain them. Well when is the marriage to be?" "Bosh! I haven't spoken of that yet. In a month Donna Maria goes out to Lima. I stay at home and work hard." "To make a home for the future Mrs. Darrel, I suppose. Why don't you write a novel on this case?" "Because if I did no one would believe it." "But it is all true, even to the fact that Manuel remains in London as the agent for a society of assassins misnamed Patriots."