"Of course I can. But I can't swear in the dock, and that is the only place I'm likely to occupy should I be caught." "Is Mrs. Gilroy a friend of Beryl's?" "I can't say that she was ever anyone's friend. She even seemed to hate my grandfather, although he was so good to her. She and Lucy were always quarrelling, and though she behaved civilly to me, I was--as I said before--never sure of her." "You can certainly be sure of her now. But I can't help thinking Beryl had something to do with this plot. He had a lot at stake. I have heard tales about his gambling that would open your eyes. Durham made it his business to find out when he heard that Sir Simon intended to disinherit you in favor of Beryl." "Durham has always been my friend," said Bernard, wearily. "But as Beryl was out of the house he can't have anything to do with the crime." "I'm not so certain of that. He might have set things in train, and then have arranged the theatre business so as to provide himself with an _alibi_." "You think he hired someone to represent me?" "I do, though, as I say, it would be hard for anyone to disguise himself like you. You haven't a double, have you?" "Not that I ever heard of," said Gore, unable to restrain a smile; "but they say everyone has a double." "Well, we must hunt out yours. If we find the soldier who resembled you, and who called himself by your name, we will be able to prove that he committed the crime." "But how can you go to work?" "I hardly know, Bernard. I must ask Durham. Meantime you can stay here. And there's Judas. I'll make it my business to hunt him out. I daresay he was employed by Beryl also." "How you harp on Beryl." "Because I am sure he has everything to do with the matter. It was a carefully-arranged trap, and you have fallen into it. What Mrs. Gilroy expects to gain I can't think. However, Beryl has found himself mistaken over the money. The new will--so Durham told me to tell you--was burnt by the old man, and so the old one, giving you all, stands. Both Mrs. Gilroy and Mr. Beryl are left out in the cold. And that is all the better for your safety." "Why?" asked Bernard, looking puzzled. "Because the person they hired to do the business--your double--will expect to be paid a large sum. If not, he will round on them." "You forget. If he confesses he puts a rope round his own throat according to your theory." "True enough. But there's Judas. He'll have his pound of flesh, or make an unholy row." "Dick," said Bernard, seriously, "it's impossible that a lad of thirteen can be such a villain as you make him out to be." "I tell you that lad is a born criminal, and if he goes on as he is doing he'll come to the gallows, where, according to his grandmother, his forefathers suffered before him. Judas is as cunning as a fox, and very strong as to his will. Also, he is greedy of money----" "You describe a man of experience."