y in
a lunatic asylum, and when I asked him how even then he could marry
Lydia, he suggested his scheme of substituting a sickly and dying man
for Vrain. The scheme--which was entirely invented by the Count--was as
follows:

"Ferruci said that in a minor London theatre he had seen an actor called
Clear, who was wonderfully like Vrain, save that he had no scar on the
cheek, and had a moustache, whereas Vrain was always clean-shaved. He
had made the acquaintance of the actor--Michael Clear was his full
name--and of his wife. They proved to be hard up and mercenary, so
Ferruci had no difficulty in gaining over both for his purpose. For a
certain sum of money (which was to be paid to Mrs. Clear when her
husband was dead and the Count, married to Lydia, was possessed of the
assurance money) Clear agreed to shave off his moustache and personate
Vrain. Ferruci, who was something of a chemist, created by means of some
acid a scar on Clear's cheek like that on Vrain's, so that he resembled
my son-in-law in every way save that he had lost one little finger.

"Ferruci wanted me to join him in the conspiracy so that I could watch
Clear impersonating Vrain, while he himself kept his eye on the real
Vrain, who was to be received into Mrs. Clear's house at Bayswater and
passed off as her husband. All Mrs. Clear wanted was the money, as--long
since wearied of her drunken husband--she did not care if he lived or
died. Clear, on his part, knowing that he could not live long, was quite
willing to play the part of Vrain on condition that he had plenty to eat
and drink, and could live in idleness and luxury. His wishes in this
direction cost us a pretty penny, as he bought everything of the best.

"To this plot I refused consent until I saw how Vrain was: so when
Ferruci brought him from Salisbury--where he was hiding--to London, I
had an interview with him. He proved to be so stupefied with drugs that
he hardly knew me, so, seeing that my Lydia would get no good out of her
life by being tied to such a husband, I determined that I would assist
Ferruci, on the understanding, of course, that Vrain was to be well
looked after in every way. We agreed that when Clear died, and his body
was identified as Vrain's, that the real man should be put in an asylum,
which was--and I am sure every one will agree with me--the best place
for him.

"All this being arranged, I went out to look for a house in a secluded
part of the town, in which Clear--un