Imprisonment is not calculated to raise a man's spirits, consequently poor Myles, having now been shut up for some weeks, was in rather a dismal frame of mind. Norwood informed him from time to time of the discoveries that were being made, so, in spite of his quixotic ideas concerning the promise he had made to Lady Balscombe, there seemed every chance that he would soon be released from his perilous position.

After the discovery that Lady Balscombe was dead and not Lena Sarschine, Norwood, accompanied by May Penfold, went to tell Myles about it in the hope that this being the case he would now tell all about his interview with the deceased, and thus possibly throw some light on the mystery. Myles was delighted to see May and clasped her fondly to his breast, while Norwood, finding the meeting of two lovers somewhat trying, busied himself with his notes at the other end of the cell.

"I knew you would not forsake me, May," said Myles, tenderly, "you at least do not believe me guilty."

"Of course not," replied May, "nor does anyone else--Mr. Dowker, my guardian and Mr. Ellersby all swear you are innocent."

"Ellersby!" said Myles in surprise, "I thought after meeting me on that night he would think I had committed the crime."

"Well, he does not!"

"I did not think Ellersby would prove such a friend," said Desmond heartily.

"I don't know if you'll consider him so much of a friend when I tell you he wants to marry me."

"What! marry you!"

"Yes! he came yesterday morning to see me and asked me if I would marry him."

"And you? what did you answer?"

"Can you ask?" she said, looking at him reproachfully. "I told him I was engaged to you--he said he had heard so but was not certain if it was true, and then----"

"Go on," said Myles, seeing she hesitated.

"Then he said you were in a dangerous position, but that if I promised to marry him he would do his best to prove your innocence."

"How can he do that?" asked Myles quietly.

"I don't know," answered May, "that is what he said, then I refused him again and said your innocence would be proved without any assistance from him. After that I left the library, and shortly afterwards he went away. Since then I have not seen him and I don't want to."

"It's very kind of Ellersby wanting to help me," said Myles, kissing May, "but I don't think it was honourable of him to make your hand the price of his help, knowing you were engaged to me."

"He was not certain of that. You know everyone thought Lord Calliston was my future husband."

"They can hardly think so now," said Myles in a rather husky voice, kissing her on the cheek.

"As soon as you are ready to attend to business, Mr. Desmond," said Norwood, coming forward, "I have some serious things to say."

"Go on!" replied Desmond listlessly.

"You said that on the return of Calliston's yacht you would be released from the promise you made to the lady whom you saw on that night."

"Yes," answered Myles uneasily, "I did, but I don't think the yacht will return for a long time."

"You are wrong--the Seamew is at Brighton now."

"And Calliston?" gasped Desmond, a greyish pallor overspreading his face.

"Calliston is in London--and Lena Sarschine."

"Lena Sarschine?" mutters Myles, with a quick indrawn breath.

"Yes. We know now that Lady Balscombe was the woman who left the rooms in anger, and was murdered in Jermyn Street."

"True! True!" murmured Desmond. "It's quite true!"

"You knew Lady Balscombe was murdered, and not Lena Sarschine?" asked May with a cry.

He bowed his head.

"Yes. I saw Lady Balscombe on that night. She was dressed in Lena Sarschine's clothes, and came to see Calliston. He was not there--I was. She told me of the visit of her sister to her house, and how she had come to learn the truth from Calliston's own lips. I told her it was true that Lena Sarschine--or rather, Helena Dicksfall--was Calliston's mistress. She was mad with anger, and wanted to go straight back to her sister. Knowing if she did the two women would have a row, and things might become serious, I tried to quiet her, but was unsuccessful. In spite of all I could do, she rushed away outside, and though I followed her in a few minutes, I was unable to find her, as she had disappeared in the thick fog. I went along Piccadilly as quickly as I could, thinking she had gone home, but after getting to Park Lane and not finding her, I thought I had lost her on the way, as she could not have walked as quickly as I did. I did not ask for her at Park Lane, as that would have let the servants know she was out, and I wanted to save her good name. I went back again along Piccadilly down St. James's Street, in a vain hope of finding her. I was unsuccessful, as you may guess, so was coming up St. James's Street on my way back to Park Lane, when I met Ellersby, as you know. After that I gave up the chase in despair and went home. Next morning I heard of the murder in Jermyn Street, and saw by the description of the dress it was Lady Balscombe, but as the idea got about it was Lena Sarschine, I did not seek to contradict it."

"Why?" asked Norwood.

"For very strong reasons," replied Desmond coldly.

"Were your very strong reasons connected with the murder?"

"They were."

"Cannot you tell them to me now?"

"If you give me a few minutes to think I will let you know."

"Very good," said Norwood cheerfully.

"Why did you not tell us all this before?" asked May.

............