rwards Miss Greeb opened the door to a tall and beautiful
lady, who asked for Mr. Denzil, and was shown into his sitting-room.
With keen instinct, Miss Greeb decided that this was the woman who had
taken possession of Lucian's heart, and being a just little creature, in
spite of her jealousy, was obliged to admit that the visitor was as
handsome as a picture. Then, seeing that there was no chance for her
beside this splendid lady, she consoled herself with a dismal little
proverb, and looked forward to the time when it would be necessary to
put a ticket in the parlour window. Meanwhile, to have some one on whose
bosom she could weep, Miss Greeb went round to see Mrs. Bensusan,
leaving Diana in possession of Lucian, and the cat sole occupant of the
kitchen.

In the drawing-room, on the front floor, Diana, with her eyes shining
like two stars, was talking to Lucian. She had come up at once on
receipt of his letter; she had been to Hampstead, she had seen her
father, and now she was telling Lucian about the visit.

"He knew me at once, poor dear," she said rapidly, "and asked me if I
had been out, just as if I'd left the house for a visit and come back.
Ah!"--she shook her head and sighed--"I am afraid he'll never be quite
himself again."

"What does Jorce think?"

"He says that father can be discharged as cured, and is going to see
about it for me. Of course, he will never be quite sane, but he will
never be violent so long as morphia and drugs of that sort are kept from
him. As soon as he is discharged I shall take him back to Bath, and put
him in charge of Miss Barbar; then I shall return to town, and we must
expose the whole conspiracy!"

"Conspiracy?"

"What else do you call it, Lucian? That woman and Ferruci have planned
and carried it out between them. They put my father into the asylum, and
made another man pass as him, in order to get the assurance money. As
their tool did not die quickly enough, they killed him."

"No, Diana. Both Lydia and Ferruci have proved beyond all doubt that
they were not in Pimlico at the hour of the death. I believe they
contrived this conspiracy, but I don't believe they murdered Clear."

"Well, we shall see what defence they make. But one thing is certain,
Lucian--Lydia will have to disgorge the assurance money."

"Yes, she certainly will, and I've no doubt the Assurance Company will
prosecute her for fraud in obtaining it. I shall see Ferruci to-morrow
and force him to conf