"So Bernard thought, and that was why he assisted him," said Alice. "I think you put in a good word for him, Miss Malleson." Alice assented. "I was sorry for the poor fellow. While I nursed him I saw much good in him. And, remember, that he had intended to tell me who he was when he arrived, only he was so ill." "And when he saw that you fancied he was Bernard, he accepted the situation," said Durham, ironically. "I wonder he could have thought you so easily taken in, knowing that you knew Bernard so intimately." "Well, I don't think he was quite himself during that illness," said Alice, pensively. "Had he been better, he would certainly have doubted the fact of aunty's and my beliefs. A few questions from me, and he would have been exposed, even had I truly believed he was Bernard." "And he must have wondered how you never put the questions." "Perhaps. But he thought I was considering his health. However, he spoke up well at the trial, and quite explained Bernard's innocence." Durham shrugged his shoulders. "The serpent in the bamboo. He was forced to be honest at the trial for his own sake." "Don't be hard on him," said Miss Berengaria, suddenly. "I received a letter from him yesterday. He is doing very well in America, and with the money Bernard gave him he has bought a farm. Also, he hopes to marry." "I wonder will he tell his future wife anything of his past life." "Not if he is wise," said Durham, looking at Alice, who had spoken. "By the way, Miss Berengaria, does he mention his mother?" "No," replied the old lady, promptly. "Drat you, Durham! why should the boy mention his mother at this point? She has been dead all these months. Poor soul! her end was a sad one. I never heard, though, of what poison she died." "A Romany poison they call drows," explained Durham, quickly. "The gipsies use it to poison pigs." "Why do they wish to poison pigs?" "Because, if they kill a pig in that way, the farmer to whom it belongs, thinking the animal has died a natural death, gives it to the gipsies and they eat it." "Ugh!" Miss Berengaria shuddered. "I'll look well after my own pigs. So the poor creature killed herself with that drug?" "I don't know that it is a drug," said Durham. "I can't explain what it is. She hinted that I would know what drows meant before the end of the day, and I did. While I was telling Inspector Groom about her confession, she poisoned herself in my office. I thought she was asleep, but she evidently was watching for her opportunity to make away with herself." "Ugh!" said Miss Berengaria, again. "I wonder you can bear to sit in that office after such an occurrence." "How lucky it was that she signed that confession before she died," was the remark made by Alice. "My dear young lady, she came especially to confess, so as to save her son. She would not have died until she did confess."