the evidence against this woman is strong, but it is not
certain; and I argue the case looking at it from her point of view--the
only view which is likely to be taken by her counsel. If Mrs. Vrain
killed her husband she must have had a strong motive to do so."

"Well," said Diana impatiently, "there is the assurance money."

"I don't know if that motive is quite strong enough to justify this
woman in risking her neck," responded the barrister. "As Mrs. Vrain of
Berwin Manor she had an ample income, for your father seems to have left
all the rents to her, and spent but little on himself; also she had an
assured position, and, on the whole, a happy life. Why should she risk
losing these advantages to gain more money?"

"She wanted to marry Ferruci," said Diana, driven to another point of
defence. "She was almost engaged to him before she married my foolish
father; she invited him to Berwin Manor against the wish of her husband,
and showed plainly that she loved him sufficiently to commit a crime for
his sake. With my father dead, and she in possession of L20,000, she
could hope to marry this Italian."

"Can you prove that she was so reckless?"

"Yes, I can," replied Miss Vrain defiantly. "The same person who told me
that Lydia was not at Berwin Manor on Christmas Eve can tell you that
her behaviour with Count Ferruci was the talk of Bath."

"Who is this person?" asked Lucian, looking up.

"A friend of mine--Miss Tyler. I brought her up with me, so that you
should get her information at first hand. You can see her at once," and
Diana rose to ring the bell.

"One moment," interposed Lucian, before she could touch the button.
"Tell me if Miss Tyler knows your reason for bringing her up."

"I have not told her directly," said Diana, with some bluntness, "but as
she is no fool, I fancy she suspects. Why do you ask?"

"Because I have something to tell you which I do not wish your friend to
hear, unless," added Lucian significantly, "you desire to take her into
our confidence."

"No," said Diana promptly. "I do not think it is wise to take her into
our confidence. She is rather--well, to put it plainly, Mr.
Denzil--rather a gossip."

"H'm! As such, do you consider her evidence reliable?"

"We can pick the grains of wheat out of the chaff. No doubt she
exaggerates and garbles, after the fashion of a scandal-loving woman,
but her evidence is valuable, especially as showing that Lydia was not
at Bath on Christmas Eve