the woman I mistook for you."

"And who may she be?"

"That is just what I wish to find out. This woman who came to Jersey
Street so often wore this cloak; therefore, she must have obtained it
from the Count. I'll make him tell me who she is, and what she has to do
with this crime."

"Do you think she has anything to do with it?" said Mrs. Vrain
doubtfully.

"I am certain. It must have been her shadow I saw on the blind."

"And the man's shadow was the Count's?" questioned Lydia.

"I think so. He bought the cloak for the woman, visited the man Wrent at
Jersey Street, and was seen by the servant in the back yard. He did not
act thus without some object, Mrs. Vrain, you may be sure of that."

"Sakes!" said Lydia, with a weary sigh. "I ain't sure of anything save
that my head is buzzing like a sawmill. Who is Wrent, anyhow?"

"I don't know. An old man with white beard and a skull-cap of black
velvet."

"Ugh!" said Mrs. Vrain, with a shiver. "Mark used to wear a black
skull-cap, and the thought of it makes me freeze up. Sounds like a judge
of your courts ordering a man to be lynched. Well, Mr. Denzil, it seems
to me as you'd best hustle Ercole. If he knows who the woman is--and he
wouldn't buy cloaks for her if he didn't--he'll know who this Wrent is.
I guess he can supply all information."

"Where does he live?"

"Number 40, Marquis Street, St. James's. You go and look him up, while I
tell poppa what a mean white he is. I guess poppa won't let him come
near me again. Pop's an honest man, though he ain't no Washington."

"Suppose I find out that he killed your husband?" asked Lucian, rising.

"Then you'd best lynch him right away," replied Lydia without
hesitation. "I draw the line at murder--some!"

The barrister was somewhat disgusted to hear Mrs. Vrain so coolly devote
her whilom admirer to a shameful death. However, he knew that her heart
was hard and her nature selfish; so there was little use in showing any
outward displeasure at her want of charity. She had cleared herself from
suspicion, and evidently cared not who suffered, so long as she was safe
and well spoken of. Moreover, Lucian had learned all he wished about her
movements on the night of the crime, and taking a hasty leave, he went
off to Marquis Street for the purpose of bringing Ferruci to book for
his share in the terrible business. However, the Count proved to be from
home, and would not be back, so the servant said, until late that nigh