"My dear, this hole-and-corner business is no good. And the discovery of the likeness between Michael and Bernard brings a new element into play. If Bernard lets himself be arrested, the whole business can be threshed out in daylight. Besides, as we stand now, that Beryl creature--drat him!--will make mischief." "He has found out that Bernard is alive," said Alice. "That's impossible!" cried Durham, waking up and sitting apparently on thorns. "He doesn't know Bernard is at this Castle." "Alice has put the matter wrongly," said Bernard, taking out the letter of Beryl. "She received this from Julius. He says he saw me in the streets of London. That means he saw Michael Gilroy." "Ah! And made the mistake, as everyone else seems to have done." "I doubt that, Alice," said Miss Plantagenet, "I doubt that very much. It seems to me that Beryl--drat him!--knows a great deal more than we do. It's my opinion," added the old lady, looking round triumphantly, "that Beryl has used Michael as an instrument." "I think so also," said Durham, quickly, "and it comes to this, that if I accidentally met Michael, or if he called at my office representing himself as Bernard, I should accept him as such." "What for?" asked Bernard, angrily. "There you go with your temper," said Miss Berengaria. "Durham is quite right and shows more sense than I expected from him. The only way to get at the truth--which this Michael with his mother knows--is to give him a long enough rope to let him hang himself. I daresay if Durham won his confidence, the man might presume on his being accepted as Bernard, and might give us a clue. What do you say, Alice? Don't sit twiddling your thumbs, but answer." Miss Malleson laughed. "I agree with you, aunt." "Of course you do. Am I ever wrong? Well?" She looked round. Durham answered her look. "I will go back to London," he said, "and will advertise for Mrs. Gilroy----" "She won't be such a fool as to obey." "I beg your pardon, Miss Plantagenet; she may." "She won't, I tell you." "Then Michael may come." "What! with that murder hanging over his head? Rubbish!" "You forget Bernard is accused. Michael can clear himself." Miss Berengaria snorted and rubbed her nose. "Can he? then I should very much like to know how he can. Do what you like, young man, but mark my words: your net will catch no fish." "It may catch Beryl," said Bernard, thoughtfully. "When he sees Mark advertising he will be on the look-out." "To have Michael arrested as Bernard," said Miss Berengaria. "Well, he might. And if so, all the better for you, Gore. Oh dear me"--she rose to put on her bonnet--"what a lot of trouble all this is." "And it rose from Bernard being true to me," said Alice, tenderly. "As if you weren't worth the world," said Bernard, assisting her to put on her cloak.