k, so he lied in the
calmest manner to get at the truth. "Ferruci says that he contrived the
whole conspiracy."

"So he did," said Mrs. Clear, with a nod.

"And took you to 'The Haven,' at Hampstead, on Christmas Eve."

"That's true. He took me from Wrent's house in Jersey Street. You need
not go on, Mr. L. D. I admit the whole business."

"You do?" cried Lucian and Diana together.

"Yes, if only to spite that old villain Wrent, who has not paid me the
money he promised."

Before Lucian and Miss Vrain could express their pleasure at Mrs. Clear
coming to this sensible conclusion, the door opened suddenly, and little
Miss Greeb, in a wonderful state of agitation, tripped in.

"Oh, Mr. Denzil! I've just been to Mrs. Bensusan's, and Rhoda's run
away!"

"Run away!"

"Yes! She hasn't been back all day, and left a note for Mrs. Bensusan
saying she was going to hide, because she was afraid."

CHAPTER XXVII

A CONFESSION

Now, indeed, Lucian had his hands full. Rhoda, the red-headed servant of
Mrs. Bensusan, had run away on the plea that she was afraid of
something--what she did not explain in the note she left behind her, and
it was necessary that she should be discovered, and forced into
confessing what she knew of the conspiracy and murder. Mrs. Clear, not
having been paid her hush money, had betrayed the confidence and
misdeeds of Ferruci, thereby revealing an extent of villainy for which
neither Diana nor Lucian was prepared. Now the Count had to be seen and
brought to book for his doings, Lydia informed that her husband was in
the asylum, and Vrain himself had to be released in due form from his
legal imprisonment. How Lucian, even with the assistance of Diana, could
deal with all these matters, he did not know.

"Why not see Mr. Link?" suggested Diana, when Mrs. Clear had departed,
after making a clean breast of the nefarious transactions in which she
had been involved. "He may take the case in hand again."

"No doubt," responded Denzil drily, "but I am not very keen to hand it
over to him, seeing that he has abandoned it twice. Again, if I call in
the police, it is all over with Lydia and the Count. They will be
arrested and punished."

"For the murder of Clear?"

"Perhaps, if it can be proved that they have anything to do with it;
certainly for the conspiracy to get the assurance money by the feigned
death of your father."

"Well," said Diana coldly, "and why should they not receive the re