"Yes, on a charge of conspiracy. It is no use your getting angry, Mrs.
Clear, for it won't improve your position. We--that is, this lady and
myself--wish to know, firstly, how your husband came to be masquerading
as Mr. Vrain; secondly, where we can find the man called Wrent, who
employed your husband; and thirdly, Mrs. Clear, we wish to know, and the
law wishes to know, who killed your husband."
"I don't know who killed him," said the woman, looking rather afraid,
"but I believe Wrent did."
"Who is Wrent?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know many things," said Diana, taking part in the
conversation, "but you must tell us what you do know, otherwise I shall
call in a policeman and have you arrested."
"You can't prove anything against me."
"I think I can," said Lucian in the most cheerful manner. "I can prove
that you were in No. 13 of this Square, seeing your husband, for I found
on the fence dividing the back yard of that house from one in Jersey
Street a scrap of a veil such as you wear. Also the landlady and servant
can prove that you called on Mr. Wrent several times, and were with him
on the night of the murder. Then there is the evidence of your cloak,
which you left behind, and which Wrent gave to the servant Rhoda. Also
the evidence of Signor Ferruci----"
"Ferruci! What has he said about me?"
Lucian saw that revenge might make the woman speak, so he lied in the
calmest manner to get at the truth. "Ferruci says that he contrived the
whole conspiracy."
"So he did," said Mrs. Clear, with a nod.
"And took you to 'The Haven,' at Hampstead, on Christmas Eve."
"That's true. He took me from Wrent's house in Jersey Street. You need
not go on, Mr. L. D. I admit the whole business."
"You do?" cried Lucian and Diana together.
"Yes, if only to spite that old villain Wrent, who has not paid me the
money he promised."
Before Lucian and Miss Vrain could express their pleasure at Mrs. Clear
coming to this sensible conclusion, the door opened suddenly, and little
Miss Greeb, in a wonderful state of agitation, tripped in.
"Oh, Mr. Denzil! I've just been to Mrs. Bensusan's, and Rhoda's run
away!"
"Run away!"
"Yes! She hasn't been back all day, and left a note for Mrs. Bensusan
saying she was going to hide, because she was afraid."
CHAPTER XXVII
A CONFESSION