ewhere on the way."

"I suppose she will go to see Mrs. Vimpany. I will send her a line
there."

"Certainly. That will be sure to find her."

"Well, Harry, is there anything else to tell me?

"A great deal," he repeated. "That photograph, Iris, which frightened
you so much, has been very carefully taken by Vimpany for a certain
reason."

"What reason?"

"There are occasions," he replied, "when the very best thing that can
happen to a man is the belief that he is dead. Such a juncture of
affairs has happened to myself--and to you--at this moment. It is
convenient--even necessary--for me that the world should believe me
dead. In point of fact, I must be dead henceforth. Not for anything
that I have done, or that I am afraid of--don't think that. No; it is
for the simple reason that I have no longer any money or any resources
whatever. That is why I must be dead. Had you not returned in this
unexpected manner, my dear, you would have heard of my death from the
doctor, and he would have left it to chance to find a convenient
opportunity of letting you know the truth. I am, however, deeply
grieved that I was so careless as to leave that photograph upon the
table."

"I do not understand," she said. "You pretend to be dead?"

"Yes. I _must_ have money. I have some left--a very little. I _must_
have money; and, in order to get it, I must be dead."

"How will that help?"

"Why, my dear, I am insured, and my insurances will be paid after my
death; but not before."

"Oh! must you get money--even by a----" She hesitated.

"Call it a conspiracy, my dear, if you please. As there is no other way
whatever left, I must get money that way."

"Oh, this is dreadful! A conspiracy, Harry? a--a--fraud?"

"If you please. That is the name which lawyers give to it."

"But oh, Harry!--it is a crime. It is a thing for which men are tried
and found guilty and sentenced."

"Certainly; if they are found out. Meantime, it is only the poor,
ignorant, clumsy fool who gets found out. In the City these things are
done every day. Quite as a matter of course," he added carelessly. "It
is not usual for men to take their wives into confidence, but in this
case I must take you into confidence: I have no choice, as you will
understand directly."

"Tell me, Harry, who first thought of this way?"

"Vimpany, of course. Oh! give him the credit where real cleverness is
concerned. Vimpany suggested the thing. He found me well-nigh as
desperat