"Of course," observed the lawyer, ironically, "the comedy is nearly at an end. The will has been signed. Now Michael will disappear to allow Beryl to get the estates." "He will have to supply a corpse then," said Conniston, coolly. "Oh, I daresay he will," rejoined Durham, shrugging. "After the disappearance of Michael I know exactly what will happen. A body much decomposed will be found in the Thames, and will be recognized by Julius as that of Bernard's. Any corpse will do, so long as the face cannot be recognized." "Drat the man!" said Miss Berengaria, emphatically. "You can't get a corpse without murdering someone, and I should think that Beryl creature has had enough of that sort of work." "Oh, but Julius did not kill Sir Simon," said Lucy, with dismay. "He was at the theatre with me and Mrs. Webber." "So I believe," said Durham, dryly; "but tell me, Miss Randolph, did he leave you at all during the play?" "Not till the last act," said Lucy. "Then he went to get something to drink, and returned before the end of the play to take us away." "How long was he absent?" "Nearly half an hour. He said he had met a friend and had been talking to him." "Ah! Very clever of him. Well," said Durham, looking round, "I have something to tell you all. We are friends of Bernard's, are we not?" "Certainly," said Miss Berengaria, sharply, "and I know what you are going to tell us. This Beryl creature murdered Sir Simon when he was away from the theatre." "Impossible!" said Lucy and Alice in one breath. "He could scarcely have done it in half an hour," said Conniston. "But he did for all that," said Durham. "Remember, the Curtain Theatre is only ten minutes' walk from Crimea Square. Beryl could easily slip round and strangle Sir Simon--as he did." "I knew it," cried Miss Berengaria, triumphantly. "Tell us all about it, Durham. Aha! we'll see that reptile dancing on nothing." "Oh, aunt!" said Alice, turning pale. "Miss Plantagenet," remonstrated Lucy, "don't speak like that. I do not like Julius, and broke my engagement. I think he is tricky, and has no principles, but I don't think he would----" "Yes, he would," contradicted the old lady, taking a pinch of snuff. "Bah! don't talk to me. Liar and rogue, murderer and thief are written all over him. My dear girls, the man is a danger to society. I want to see him hanged. He would have hanged Bernard." "That's true enough," said Conniston; "but for the sake of the family, I don't want to see Julius hanged. So long as he tells the truth and lets Bernard take his place in society I don't care." "He won't let Bernard take his place in society," insisted Miss Berengaria, quietly. "I daresay I am vindictive, but that young reptile--ugh!" She shuddered and took another pinch of snuff. "Are you sure he is guilty?" asked Lucy, timidly. "Quite sure," said Durham, gravely. "I have evidence," and he produced a handkerchief.