Thomas said:

"'Uncle Tom always will be eavesdropping when that lover calls.'

"My uncle had met Pierre Lanier. Shortly following Paul's call, Pierre
received an invitation to dine with Sir Charles Chesterton. Uncle Thomas
proved a most entertaining host, telling of many thrilling adventures in
which he had personal part. His recitals greatly interested Pierre.

"To me it seemed that uncle frequently had been mixed up in doubtful
schemes, but always evaded detection. I began to doubt his morals, and
finally concluded he had been a cruel, heartless trickster.

"Pierre seemed to note my pained embarrassment, and checked some vague
hints at his own villainous past.

"I suffered much during Pierre's stay. Having thought Uncle Thomas the
soul of honor, engaged in a high-principled crusade against crime,
generously sacrificing time and means to punish guilt and to right the
wrongs of the helpless, to hear him in low tones glibly telling of
villainous performances, often furtively glancing at me as if fearing I
might catch the drift of his talk, made me heartsick with growing
mistrust and painful forebodings. Uncle's narratives had been so
realistic that I began to dread Pierre's departure. My face must have
expressed some of these feelings, for when Pierre left, Uncle Thomas
looked me straight in the eyes and banteringly said:

"'What a villainous fellow Uncle Tom is, anyhow! I never knew before I
was so bad! If that close-mouthed old wretch dines here often, my little
girl will think him better than Uncle Tom!'

"I began to see uncle's crafty tactics, and must have looked at him in a
questioning, half-apologetic way.

"Uncle Thomas responded with:

"'Oh, you little suspicious innocence! I was only pumping.'

"I felt a heavy load lift from my heart, with growing admiration for
this wonderful uncle who could so dissemble. The thought that I, too,
might act such part and lure the cruel, vindictive, infatuated Paul by
consummate deceit now became fascinating.

"Uncle Thomas's cunning suggested great possibilities in clearing the
Lanier conspiracy. Neither Pierre nor Paul suspected my identity. They
then thought Alice Webster at the bottom of the Thames. All friends
believed me dead. I could return to London only when past conduct was
justified. Without this horrible affair fully cleared, there could be
nothing in life for me. What pressing claims awaited my actions! Here
only was opportunity.

"For many long years