CAIN.
Maurice Kenyon took an early opportunity of asking Lady Alice whether she would recognize the man Smith if she saw him again.
"I think so. Why do you ask? You know I talked to him a good deal."
"I have been very blind," said Maurice seriously. "I never thought until to-day of associating him in my mind with someone else—someone whom I have seen twice during the past week. May I speak freely to you? You know I am as anxious as anyone can possibly be that this mystery should be cleared up. I wish to speak of Francis Trent, the brother of Oliver Trent, and the husband of the woman who makes this accusation against Mr. Brooke."
Lady Alice recoiled. "You cannot mean that John Smith had anything to do with him?"
"I have a strong belief that John Smith and Francis Trent are one and the same. To my shame be it spoken, I did not recognize him either on Wednesday or Friday when I paid him a visit. Ethel wished me to go when she heard that he was ill." He said this in a deprecating tone.
"I quite understand. You saw this man—Francis Trent—then?"
"Yes, and could not imagine where I had seen him before. I think it is the man I used to see in hospital. Lady Alice—if you saw him yourself——"
"I, Mr. Kenyon? What! see the man and woman who accuse my husband of murder?"—There was genuine horror in her tone. "How could I speak to them?"
"It is just a chance," said Maurice, in a low voice. "If he knew that you were the wife of the man who was accused—perhaps something would come of it."