"Perhaps you would like a cup of coffee, or a whisky and soda,"

suggested Archie, "before starting to read?"

"I should," assented Random, who looked weary and pale. "The events of

the night have somewhat knocked me up. Coffee for choice--nice, black,

strong, hot coffee."

Hope nodded and went to order the same. When he returned he sat down,

after closing the door carefully, and proceeded to read. But before he

could speak Random raised his hand.

"Let us chat until the coffee comes in," he said; "then we shall not be

interrupted when reading."

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"All right," said Hope. "Have a cigar!"

"No, thanks. I have been smoking all the night. I shall sit here by the

fire and wait for the coffee. You look chippy yourself."

"And small wonder," said Archie wearily. "We little thought when we left

the Fort last night what a time we were going to have. Fancy Mrs. Jasher

having sent you the emerald after all!"

"Yes. She repented, as she said, and yet I dare say--as she also

said--she was sorry that she acted on her impulse. If she had not been

stabbed by that damned Cockatoo, she would no doubt have destroyed that

confession. I expect she wrote that also on the impulse of the moment."

"She confessed as much," said Hope, leaning his head on his hand and

staring into the fire. "She must have been cognizant of the truth all

along. I wonder if she was an accessory before or after the fact?"

"What I wonder," said Random, after a moment's thought, "is, what

Braddock has to do with the matter?"

Hope raised his head in surprise.

"Why, nothing. Mrs. Jasher did not say a word against Braddock."

"I know that. All the same, Cockatoo was completely under the thumb of

the Professor, and probably was instructed by him to strangle Bolton."

"That is impossible," cried the artist, much agitated. "Think of what

you are saying, Random. What a terrible thing it would be for Lucy if

the Professor were guilty in such a way as you suggest!"

"Really, I fail to see that. Miss Kendal is no relation to Braddock save

by marriage. His iniquities have nothing to do with her, or with you."

"But it's impossible, I tell you, Random. Throughout the whole of this

case Braddock has acted in a perfectly innocent way."

"That's just it," said Sir Frank caustically; "he has acted. In spite

of his pretended grief for the loss of the emeralds, I should not be

surprised to learn from that," he nodded towards the confession on the

table, "that he was in possession of the missing gem. Cockatoo had no

reason to steal the emeralds himself, setting aside the fact that he

probably would not know their value, being but a semi-civilized savage.

He acted under orders from his master, and although Cockatoo strangled

Bolton, the Professor is really the author and the gainer and the moving

spirit."




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