that his name was Vrain. Of course, I did
not believe him. Still, he was so persistent about the matter that I
thought there might be something in it, and spoke to Ferruci."

"What did he say?"

"He denied that the man's name was anything but Clear. That the wife
and two doctors--for the poor soul had been duly certified as
insane--had put him into the asylum; and altogether persisted so
strongly in his original story that I thought it was absurd to put a
crazy man's delusion against a sane man's tale. Besides, everything
regarding the certificate and sequestrating of Clear had been quite
legal. Two doctors--and very rightly, too--had certified to the insanity
of the man; and his wife--as I then believed Mrs. Clear to be--had
consented to his detention."

"What made you suspicious that there might be something wrong?" asked
Lucian eagerly.

"My visit to meet you, at Ferruci's request, to prove the alibi,"
responded Jorce. "I thought it was strange, and afterwards, when a
detective named Mr. Link, called, I thought it was stranger still."

"But you did not see Link?"

"No. I was in Italy then, but I heard of his visit. In Florence I heard
from a most accomplished gossip the whole story of Mr. Vrain's marriage
and the prior engagement of Mrs. Vrain to Ferruci. I guessed that there
might be some plot, but I could not quite understand how it was carried
out, save that Vrain--as I then began to believe Clear to be--had been
placed in my asylum under a false name. On my return I intended to see
you, when I was laid up in Florence with the fever. Now, however, that
we have met, tell me so much of the story as you know. Afterwards we
shall see Mr. Vrain."

Lucian was willing enough to show his confidence in Jorce, the more so
as he needed his help. Forthwith he told him all he knew, from the time
he had met Michael Clear, _alias_ Mark Berwin, _alias_ Mark Vrain, in
Geneva Square, down to the moment he had presented himself for
information at the gates of "The Haven." Doctor Jorce listened with the
greatest attention, his little face puckered up into a grim smile, and
shook his head when the barrister ended his recital.

"A bad world, Mr. Denzil, a bad world!" he said, rising. "Come with me,
and I'll take you to see my patient."

"But what do you think of it all?" said Denzil, eager for some comment.

"I'll tell you that," rejoined Jorce, "when you have heard the story of
Mr. Vrain."

In a few minutes Lucian was l