Anthony looked apprehensively¹ at Clarice, as she read the anonymous² letter, for he quite expected that she would be greatly agitated³, and had been rather afraid of showing it to her, lest the shock of such an accusation⁴ brought against Ferdy should be too great. But the girl was perfectly⁵ cool, and read the letter twice. After the second reading, she looked at her lover.  
"It's a conspiracy⁶," she said, calmly.
 
Anthony was puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"
 
"Someone wants to prevent our marriage," she explained; "and so this accusation has been brought against Ferdy."
 
"I can see that. Of course"--Anthony looked anxiously at her again--"of course, the accusation is ridiculous."
 
"Perfectly ridiculous!" replied Clarice, quietly.
 
"And yet," hesitated the soldier, "would anyone bring forward such a direct accusation, unless she had evidence to go upon?"
 
Clarice, who had been musing⁷, looked up, "Why do you say 'she?'"
 
Ackworth pointed⁸ to the caligraphy of the letter, which lay on the table before them. "The handwriting is like that of a woman."
 
"Men and women write exactly alike nowadays, my dear. Besides, if a woman had written it, she certainly would have assumed even a more masculine style of writing."
 
"Then you think that the letter was written by a man?"
 
"Of course. Can't you think of a man who desires to prevent our marriage?"
 
Ackworth considered for one moment, and drew inspiration from her steadfast⁹ eyes. "Dr. Jerce," he said, suddenly.
 
"Sir Daniel Jerce! Give him his proper title!"
 
"What makes you think that?"
 
"Several things. One is that Sir Daniel quoted the slip betwixt cup and lip proverb. In fact, he hinted, more in manner than words, that I should never become your wife."
 
"Confounded cheek!" said Anthony, seating himself--he had been standing¹⁰ hitherto. "What right has he to interfere¹¹?"
 
"The right of a man who is in love with a woman," said Clarice.
 
"With an engaged woman," corrected Anthony. "Humph!" He took up the letter again. "Do you really think----"
 
"I am certain of it."
 
"But a man in such a position--a great doctor--a famous medical man--surely would not----"
 
Clarice again did not allow him to finish. "Yes, he would, if he wanted his own way, as Sir Daniel Jerce wants his. You see, Anthony dear, that Sir Daniel had always gained his ends by force of will. He tried to dominate me, but I was too strong for him. Naturally, he is irritated, and thus is ready to condescend¹² to this"---she pointed to the letter--"in order to gain his ends."
 
"Well, I'm hanged. But you can't be certain."
 
"I'll soon find out if I can be certain."
 
"In what way--by what means?"
 
"I'll ask Sir Daniel himself if he wrote the letter!"
 
"He will deny that he did," rejoined Ackworth, quickly.
 
"You trust a woman to get at the truth, denial or no denial," said Miss Baird, coolly. "And there's another thing, Anthony. Ferdy is perfectly innocent."
 
"Of course," hesitated the Captain; "still, can you prove it?"
 
"Very easily. Ferdy came home drunk on the night the crime was committed. I locked him in his own room, and took the key to mine. He could not have got out, and did not, until I released him next morning--hours after the murder was perpetrated."
 
Anthony nodded his satisfaction. "That settles the business. This letter is all bluff¹³. Anything more?"
 
Clarice nodded in her turn. "Ferdy was engaged to marry Prudence¹⁴ Clarke," she said.
 
"Was engaged! Is the engagement at an end?"
 
"Yes. Had you not come over, I should have sent for you. I saw Prudence to-day, and she declines to marry Ferdy."
 
"Why, I thought she was in love with him."
 
"She was--she is. But Zara, the dancer----"
 
"Butterfly. Yes, I know. Go on."
 
"Well, she called on Prudence on the day my guardian¹⁵ was buried, and told her that if she married Ferdy, Mr. Clarke would be accused of the murder."
 
"What rubbish. Everyone knows that Osip is guilty."
 
"Quite so," said Clarice, slowly; "but I am beginning to doubt that, Anthony. I thought that there was no mystery about this crime, but from this letter and from the attitude of Zara, I begin to think that there is."
 
"H'm!" from Ackworth. "You believe that there is a conspiracy?"
 
"Yes, I do, and Sir Daniel has to do with it. Also Zara. The man wants to marry me, and the woman to marry Ferdy. But I had better tell you everything I have learned, so that you may be in a position to see things from your point of view."
 
Anthony listened carefully, while Clarice detailed¹⁷ her interview with Prudence, and also related what Clarke had said. "I am perfectly sure," she ended, firmly, "that there is some connection between Zara and Sir Daniel."
 
"I don't see that, Clarice--upon my word, I can't see it. Zara evidently went on her own, so as to get Ferdy to herself. Sir Daniel fried his own fish--if, indeed, that letter is written by him."
 
"I'll soon learn that," rejoined Miss Baird, putting the letter into the pocket of her dinner gown. "Then, I have to tell you something about Ferdy," and she related how the boy had attempted to bluff her, and how she had got the better of him.
 
"It seems to me," said Ackworth, when she finished, "that Ferdy is being made use of in some way."
 
"I am quite certain of that, and the crime is being used as a threat to make him do what he is told."
 
"By Jerce?"
 
"Or by Zara. I grant that the whole thing is a mystery, although you and I can see the reasons for the actions of Jerce and this dancer."
 
"Marriage in both cases," said Anthony, musingly¹⁸. "But why not question Ferdy?"
 
Clarice's lip curled. "Ferdy would only tell lies," she said, disdainfully. "No, I must learn what Ferdy has to do with these matters in some way which will not arouse his suspicions. Anthony"--she placed her hands on his shoulders--"you trust me?"
 
He placed his hands on hers--"Dearest, what a question."
 
"Well, then, I am going to do something very daring."
 
"What is it?" asked Ackworth, anxiously.
 
"I can't tell you. I only ask you to trust me."
 
Ackworth looked at her closely. "Of course, I'll trust you."
 
"That is true love," said Clarice, and kissed him. "Now, in the first place, I shall write this night to Sir Daniel, and ask him to come and see me. Then I can learn if indeed he wrote the letter which I have in my pocket. Next--and this is your share of the plot I have in my head--you must ask Ferdy down for a couple of days and nights to Gattlinsands. He is always glad to stop with you."
 
"I'll do so willingly," said Anthony; "but why do you want him out of the way?"
 
"You have answered your own question. I want him out of the way, because I want him out of the way."
 
"What do you mean?"
 
"I am mysterious, am I not? But in this case everything is now becoming extremely mysterious, and we must beat these people with their own weapons. I want to marry you; I want Ferdy to marry Prudence. To bring these things about I have to learn the meaning of these threats. When I know, then I can act."
 
"But what do you intend to do?" asked Anthony, dubiously¹⁹.
 
"You promised to trust me."
 
"Yes, but--but don't be rash."
 
"Dearest, am I ever rash?"
 
"No, you are a very level-headed girl, as I know. I'll trust you, only I hope you won't get into any difficulty."
 
"If I do, I'll send for you at once. Now, when you get back to your quarters, write and ask Ferdy down for to-morrow night and for the next night."
 
"I can ask him now. He's in the house."
 
"No, I want you to ask him by letter. Write to him at Sir Daniel's."
 
Anthony nodded. "Very good. Anything else?"
 
"Yes. When Ferdy leaves you--in a couple of days--go up to London, and to Tea Street, Whitechapel."
 
"What for, Clarice?"
 
"To find out all you can concerning the young man who died of consumption there--the man who was one of the Purple Fern murderers. I want to know his name, and all about him."
 
"What good will that do?"
 
"It may lead us to discover the whereabouts of Osip. When we catch him, then we can be certain of his guilt¹⁶, and both Sir Daniel and Zara will be unable to accuse Ferdy or Mr. Clarke. Do you see?"
 
"In a way. And yet----"
 
"No, don't raise objections, or ask questions. I know exactly how to act. When you learn what I want you to learn, come here and tell it to me. In the meantime, I'll be searching on my own account."
 
"Not in Whitechapel I hope," said Anthony, quickly.
 
"No, I am sending you to Whitechapel," she laughed. "Do you know, my dear boy, I am quite enjoying this excitement. It gives me something to do, and I love a life of action."
 
She looked so brilliant, and her eyes were so bright, that Anthony did what any lover would have done under the like circumstances. He took her in his arms and kissed her. Then, as it was growing late, Clarice insisted that he should go, and escorted him to the door.
 
Ferdy was conversing²⁰ with Anthony's brother officer, who had brought over the car; and, of course, the amateur chauffeur²¹ was introduced to Miss Baird. She chatted so gaily²² for a few minu............