I liked him well enough, for he was a real
gentleman; and when that make-mischief Diana, who cocked her nose at me,
set out for Australia, we got on surprisingly well. Count Ferruci came
over to stay, as much at Mark's invitation as mine, and I didn't pay
too much attention to him anyhow."

"Miss Tyler says you did!"

"Sakes!" cried Mrs. Vrain, raising her eyebrows, "have you been talking
to that old stump? Well, just you look here, Mr. Denzil! It was Bella
Tyler who made all the mischief. She thought Ercole was sweet on her,
and when she found out he wasn't, she got real mad, and went to tell
Mark that I was making things hum the wrong way with the Count. Of
course Mark had a row with him, and, of course, I got riz--not having
done anything to lie low for. We had a row royal, I guess, and the end
of it was that Mark cleared out. I thought he would turn up again, or
apply for a divorce, though he hadn't any reason to. But he did neither,
and remained away for a whole year. While he was away I got quit of
Ercole pretty smart, I can tell you, as I wanted to shut up that old
maid's mouth. I never knew where Mark was, or guessed what became of
him, until I saw that advertisement, and putting two and two together to
make four, I called to see Mr. Link, where I found you running the
circus."

"Why did you faint on the mention of the stiletto?"

"I told you the reason, and Link also."

"Yes, but your reason was too weak to----"

"Oh, well, you're right enough there," interrupted Lydia, smiling. "All
that talk of nerves and grief wasn't true. I didn't give my real reason,
but I will now. When I heard that the old man had been stabbed by a
stiletto I remembered that the one on the library wall had vanished some
time before the Christmas Eve on which Mark was killed. So you may guess
I was afraid."

"For yourself?"

"I guess not; it wasn't any of my funeral. I didn't take the stiletto,
nor did I know who had; but I was afraid you might think Ferruci took
it. The stiletto was Italian, and the Count is Italian, so it struck me
you might put two and two together and suspect Ercole. I never thought
you'd fix on me," concluded Lydia, with a scornful toss of her head.

"As a matter of fact, I fixed on you both," said Lucian composedly.

"And for what reason? Why should I and the Count murder poor Mark, if
you please? He was a fool and a bore, but I wished him no harm. I was
sorry as any one when I heard of his death, and I