va Square who called
himself Berwin."

"That is a fair offer," replied Jorce, clearing his throat, "and one
which I willingly accept. I do not wish you to think that I am in league
with Signor Ferruci. What I did was done honestly. I am not afraid of
telling my story."

"I am sure of that," said Lucian heartily. "I guessed that Ferruci had
not trusted you altogether, from the time he feigned that your evidence
was needed only to decide a bet."

"Trust me!" echoed Jorce, with scorn. "He never trusted me at all. He is
too cunning for that. However, you shall hear."

"I'm all attention, Doctor."

"A week before last Christmas, Signor Ferruci called to see me, and
explained that he was interested in a gentleman called Michael Clear,
whom he had met some years before in Italy. Clear, he said, had been
most intimate with him, but later on had indulged so much in the morphia
habit that their friendship had terminated with high words. Afterwards,
Clear had returned to England, and Ferruci lost sight of him for some
months. Then he visited England, and one day found Clear in the street,
looking ill and wretched. The man had become a confirmed morphiamaniac,
and the habit had weakened his brain. The Count pitied the poor
creature, according to his own story, and took him to his home, the
whereabouts of which Clear was happily able to remember."

"Where is the house?" asked Lucian, taking out his pocketbook.

"Number 30, St. Bertha's Road, Bayswater," replied Jorce; and when the
barrister, for his private information, had made a note of the address,
he continued: "It then appeared that Clear was married. The wife told
Ferruci that she was afraid of her husband, who, in his fits of
drink--for he drank likewise--often threatened to kill her. They had
lost their money, and the poor woman was at her wit's end what to do.
Ferruci explained to me that out of friendship he was most anxious to
befriend Clear, and stated that Mrs. Clear wished to get her husband
cured. He proposed, therefore, to put Clear into my asylum, and pay on
behalf of the wife."

"A very ingenious and plausible plan," said Lucian. "Well, Doctor, and
what did you say?"

"I agreed, of course, provided the man was certified insane in the usual
way. Ferruci then departed, promising to bring Mrs. Clear to see me. He
brought her late on Christmas Eve, at ten--"

"Ah!" interrupted Lucian, "did she wear a black gauze veil with velvet
spots?"

"She did, Mr. De