the excuse that she was acting in her
lover's interest.

"Your suggestions are plausible, but you can't seriously expect me to
attach much weight to them," he remarked. "Besides, you seem to have
overlooked the important fact that at the regimental inquiry the
verdict was that nobody in particular was to blame.

"Oh! no," Clarke rejoined with a harsh laugh. "I merely question its
validity. I imagine that reasons which would not be officially
recognized led the court to take a lenient view; but what of that?
Blake had to leave the army, a ruined man, and I've good reason for
knowing what an acquittal like his is worth." He paused a moment. "I
may as well tell you candidly, because it's probable that you'll make
inquiries about me. Well, I'd won some reputation as a medical
specialist when I became involved in a sensational police case--you may
recollect it."

Challoner started. "Yes," he said. "So you are the man! I think
nothing was actually proved against you."

"No," said Clarke drily; "there was only a fatal suspicion. As it
happens, I was innocent, but I had to give up my profession and my life
was spoiled. There's no reason why you should be interested in this,
and I mentioned it merely because a similar misfortune has befallen
Richard Blake. The point, of course, is that it has done so
undeservedly. I think you must see who the real culprit is."

"I'll admit that you have told me a rather likely tale. As you don't
speak of having been in India, who gave you the information?"

"Blake's companion, the man I've mentioned, a former Indian officer
called Benson."

"His full name, please."

Clarke gave it him and Challoner, crossing the floor, took a book from
a shelf and turned it over by a lamp.

"Yes; he's here. What led him to talk of the thing to an outsider?"

"Drink," said Clarke. "I'll own to having taken advantage of the
condition he was often in."

Challoner, sitting down, coolly lighted a cigar. His position seemed a
weak one, but he had no thought of surrender.

"Well, you have given me some interesting information; but there's one
thing you haven't mentioned, and that is your reason for doing so."

"Can't you guess?"

"I shouldn't have suspected you of being so diffident, but I daresay
you thought this was a chance of earning some money easily."

"Yes," said Clarke. "For five thousand pounds I'll undertake that no
word of what I've told you will ever pass my lips again.