Before Miss Berengaria could communicate with Durham, he had left the castle for town. On hearing this from Bernard, the old lady at once sent up to him a full report of the arrival of Michael at the under the name of .  
"He is now a trifle better," wrote Miss Berengaria, "but having suffered from great privations he is still ill, and, so far as I can see, is likely to keep to his bed for some time. Payne is attending to him and says he needs careful nursing and . He is so weak as to be scarcely able to talk, which is perhaps all the better, as Alice and I might arouse his suspicions. We have accepted him as Bernard, and when you come down you can question him either in that character or as Michael. To tell you the truth, I am sorry for the boy—he is only twenty-one or thereabouts, and I think he has been misguided. After all, even he may not have committed the crime, although he was certainly with Sir Simon on that fatal night. The servants—with the exception of my own especial maid, Maria Tait—know nothing of the man's presence in the . And you may be sure that I am taking care Jerry Moon learns nothing. But I shall be glad when you can come down to take the matter out of my hands. I am much worried over it. Conniston comes over daily to see Lucy Randolph at the Hall, but he is so feather-brained a creature that I don't care about such a secret to him. Nor do I wish Bernard to know. With his impetuosity, he would probably come over at once, and run the chance of arrest. The whole matter is in your hands, Durham, so write and tell me what I am to do. At all events I have a fast hold of Bernard's double, and you may be sure I shall not allow him to go until this mystery is cleared up."
 
In reply to this pressing epistle, Durham wrote, telling Miss Berengaria to wait for three or four days. He was for Tolomeo, and hoped to see him at his office. If, as Durham thought, the Italian had been with Sir Simon on that night, something might be learned from him likely to prove the presence of Michael in the room. The examination of Michael—which Durham proposed to make, would then be rendered much easier. The lawyer, in conclusion, quite agreed with Miss Plantagenet that Conniston and Bernard should not be told. "I hope to be with you by the end of the week," he finished.
 
"Deuce take the man," said Miss Berengaria, rubbing her nose. "Does he think I can wait all that time?"
 
"I don't see what else you can do, aunt," said Alice, when the letter was read. "And this poor creature is so weak, that I do not think he will be able to speak much for a few days. All we have to do is to nurse him and ask no questions."
 
"And to let him think we believe him to be Bernard."
 
"Oh, he is quite convinced of that," said Alice, quickly. "I suppose he hoped I would think his altered looks might induce me to overlook any lack of resemblance to Bernard."
 
"Yes, but he must guess when you talk you will find him out, seeing you know much of Bernard that he cannot know."
 
"Perhaps that is why he holds his tongue," said Alice, rising. "But we must wait, aunt."
 
"I suppose we must," said Miss Berengaria, dolefully. "Drat the whole business! Was there ever such a coil?"
 
"Well then, aunt, will you leave it alone?"
 
"Certainly not. I intend to see the thing through. Owing to my to Sir Simon about your parents, Alice, I am really responsible for the whole business, so I will keep working at it until Bernard is out of danger and married to you."
 
"Ah!" sighed Miss Malleson. "And when will that be?"
 
"Sooner than you think, perhaps. Every day brings a surprise."
 
One day certainly brought a surprise to Lucy Randolph. She learned that Conniston loved her, though, to be sure, his frequent visits might have shown her how he was losing his heart. She was glad of this as she admired Conniston exceedingly, and, moreover, wished to escape from her awkward position at the Hall. When Bernard came back and married Alice, she would have to leave the Hall and live on the small income to her by the of the dead man. It would be much better, as she truly thought, to marry Conniston, even though he was the poorest of peers. One can do a lot with a title even without money, and Lucy was wise in her generation. Moreover, she was truly in love with the young man, and thought, very rightly, that he would make her a good husband.
 
As usual, Conniston, having taken into his head that Lucy would be an ideal wife, pursued his suit with characteristic impetuosity. He came over daily—or almost daily—to Gore Hall, and, finally, when Lucy broke off her engagement to Beryl, he told her of the whereabouts of Bernard. Lucy was overwhelmed and delighted.
 
"To think that he should be alive after all," she said. "I am so pleased, so glad. Dear Bernard, now he will be able to enjoy the fortune and the title, and marry Alice."
 
"You forget," said Conniston, a trifle dryly, "Bernard has yet to prove his . We are all trying to help him. Will you also give a hand, Miss Randolph?"
 
Lucy stared at him with widely-open eyes. "Of course I will, Lord Conniston," she said . "What do you wish me to do?"
 
"In the first place, tell me if you sent a boy to bring Bernard to Crimea Square?"
 
"No. I know the boy you mean. He is a lad called Jerry Moon. Julius found him selling matches in town, and poor. He helped him, and the other day he him a situation with Miss Berengaria."
 
"He is there now. But he—we have reason to believe—is the boy who Bernard to Crimea Square."
 
"I know nothing about that," said Lucy, . "Why not ask the boy himself? It would be easy."
 
"We will ask the boy shortly," replied Conniston,evasively, not wishing at this to tell her that the great object of everyone was to prevent Jerry thinking he was suspected. "Should you meet the boy say nothing to him."
 
"I will not, and I am not likely to meet the boy. He is usually in Miss Plantagenet's yard, and I rarely go round there." Lucy paused. "It is strange that the boy should act like that. I wonder if Sir Simon sent him to fetch Bernard, and arranged the Red Window as a sign which house it was?"
 
"The Red Window. Ah yes! Mrs. Webber saw the light, and——"
 
"And Julius afterwards didn't. I know that. It was my fault. When we drove up in the carriage on that terrible night I saw the Red Light, and wondered if Sir Simon had arranged it as a sign to Bernard. When I saw Bernard in the hall I was not astonished, for I thought he had come in answer to the light. I went upstairs, and after attending to Sir Simon, I went to the window. The lamp was before it, and stretched across the was a red handkerchief of Sir Simon's. I took that away, so you see how it was Julius did not see the light."
 
"Why did you remove the handkerchief?" asked the puzzled Conniston.
 
"Well, I wanted to save Bernard if possible, and I thought if the Red Light which had him were removed, he could make some excuse. Julius knew about the Red Light, and, as he hated Bernard, I fancied he would use it against him. But really," added Miss Randolph, wrinkling her pretty brows, "I hardly knew what I was doing, save that in some vague way I fancied the removal of the handkerchief might help Bernard. Is that clear?"
 
" clear," said Conniston, "and I am glad I know this. May I tell Bernard and Durham?"
 
"Certainly. I want to do all I can to help Bernard."
 
"Ah, you are a good woman," said Conniston, eagerly. "I wonder if you could make a chap good?"
 
"It depends upon the chap," said Lucy, shyly.
 
"I know a chap who——"
 
"Please stop, Lord Conniston," cried Lucy, starting up in confusion. "I have heaps and heaps to do. You prevent my working."
 
Her hurried flight prevented Conniston from putting the question on that occasion. But he was not . He resolved to propose as soon as possible. But Lucy thought he was making love too , and by those arts known to women alone, she managed to keep him at arm's length. She was anxious that Bernard should be cleared, that he should take up his rightful position, and should receive back the Hall from her, before Lord Conniston proposed. Of course, Lucy was ready to accept him, but, sure of her fish, she played with him until such time as she felt disposed to accept his hand and heart and title and what remained of the West............