The question was answered next day while Durham was still puzzling over the matter. Julius himself made his appearance, as meek-looking and mild as ever. The lawyer received him coldly and was on his guard. It was difficult to know why Beryl should pay a visit to an avowed enemy. But Julius soon explained the reason for his call. "I have something extremely private to say to you, Mr. Durham," he remarked in a confidential way, and after assuring himself ostentatiously that the door was closed. "I am not your legal adviser," said Durham, quickly. "You are Bernard's." "I _was_ Bernard's, you mean." "Does that intimate that you have quarrelled with Bernard?" "You forget," said the solicitor, looking at him sharply. "Bernard is supposed to be dead." "I don't think you ever believed that," said Beryl, smiling. "That has nothing to do with you." "Oh yes, it has. See here, Durham, I wrote to Miss Malleson some time ago, stating that I had seen Bernard in London." "So I understand," said Durham, calmly. "Why did you not stop him?" "I was not quick enough. He walked on the other side of the street, and before I could cross over, which was difficult on account of the traffic, Bernard disappeared. Then I was not quite sure if he really was alive. Now I am." "Indeed?" said Durham, with a qualm, for he fancied Julius might have learned of Gore's whereabouts. "Yes! That young Moon wrote a letter to me saying that Bernard had come to the Bower, starving and in rags." It was on the tip of Durham's tongue to say that no doubt Jerry had been placed as a spy at the Bower, but he suppressed this remark. He firmly believed that Julius was a murderer, but as yet he saw some difficulty in bringing the crime home to him. He thought it would be best to give the man rope enough to hang himself. In other words, to listen quietly to what he had to say and act accordingly. Durham did not like having anything to do with such a scoundrel, but in the interests of Gore he had to smother all feelings save strictly professional ones. He therefore confined himself to silence, and to looking inquiringly at Beryl. "You don't seem surprised," said Julius, annoyed. "Because I can hardy believe your statement. Jerry may be making a mistake." "Oh no. I went down on the receipt of his letter, and insisted on seeing my cousin. Miss Plantagenet--as I knew she would,--denied that he was there; but afterwards, when I threatened to bring the police on to the scene, she gave way and let me see Bernard." "You are sure, then, that Bernard committed the crime?" "Wait one moment, Mr. Durham," said Beryl, wagging his finger in a most irritating way. "Let us understand one another clearly. You know, and you have known for some time, that Bernard was at the Bower?" "I am not bound to answer that question," said the lawyer, stiffly. "Bernard answered it for you. He told me you had been to see him, and that in spite of the change in his looks you knew who he was."