"No, Miss Vrain. As I have found out so much without Link, I may as well
proceed in the matter until his professional services are required to
arrest Count Ferruci. By the way, I have never seen that gentleman. Can
you describe his appearance to me?"

"Oh, as far as looks go there is no fault to be found with him,"
answered Diana. "He is a typical Italian, tall, slender, and olive
complexioned. He speaks English very well, indeed, and appears to be
possessed of considerable education. Certainly, to look at him, and to
speak with him, you would not think he was a villain likely to murder a
defenceless old man. But if he did not kill my poor father, I know not
who did."

"I'll call on him to-morrow at noon," said Lucian, "and later on I shall
come here to tell you what has passed between us."

This remark brought the business between them to a close, but Lucian
would fain have lingered to engage Diana in lighter conversation. Miss
Vrain, however, was too much disturbed by the news he had brought her
to indulge in frivolous talk. Her mind, busied with recollections of her
deceased father, and anxiously seeking some means whereby to avenge his
death, was ill attuned to encourage at the moment the aspirations which
she knew Lucian entertained.

The barrister, therefore, sighed and hinted in vain. His Dulcinea would
have none of him or his courting, and he was compelled to retire, as
disconsolate a lover as could be seen. To slightly alter the saying of
Shakespeare, "the course of true love never does run smooth," but there
were surely an unusual number of obstacles in the current of Denzil's
desires. But as he consoled himself with reflecting that the greater the
prize the harder it is to win, so it behooved him to do his devoir like
a true knight.

The next day, at noon, Lucian, armed for the encounter with the evidence
of Rhoda and of the cloak, presented himself at the rooms which Count
Ferruci temporarily inhabited in Marquis Street. He not only found the
Italian ready to receive him, but in full possession of the adventure of
the cloak, which, as he admitted, he had learned from Lydia the previous
evening. Also, Count Ferruci was extremely indignant, and informed
Lucian that he was easily able to clear himself of the suspicion. While
he raged on in his fiery Italian way, Denzil, who saw no chance of
staying the torrent of words, examined him at his leisure.

Ercole Ferruci was, as Diana had said, a singularly